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Joe Schmidt strongly hints that he's leaving Ireland after the 2019 World Cup

The 53-year-old is out of contract after next year’s World Cup in Japan.

Murray Kinsella reports from the Aviva Stadium

JOE SCHMIDT HAS strongly hinted that he will leave his position with Ireland next year, saying the IRFU have told him, “If you change your mind, we’d love to continue that conversation.”

Schmidt is out of contract after next year’s World Cup and is due to announce a final decision on whether to stay in the Ireland job or leave on Monday.

Joe Schmidt Schmidt before Ireland's win over the USA. Brian Keane / INPHO Brian Keane / INPHO / INPHO

Asked if he is any closer to making his big call following Ireland’s 57-14 victory over the US, Schmidt suggested that he has already informed the IRFU of his initial decision.

“We’re not any clearer, just incredibly lucky to have the IRFU with the patience they have,” said Schmidt.” I committed to a certain timeframe with them and I’ve stuck to that.

“I’ve given them an indication and I just need to talk to people tomorrow and early next week, it will be made public. It might be frustrating for you guys but it’s really wrecking my head. I want it to be one or the other really.

Asked to clarify if he has informed the IRFU of his decision, Schmidt said:

“A little bit, yeah. And they’ve said, ‘Don’t be rash, if you change your mind, we’d love to continue that conversation, or if you change your mind we don’t need to have a conversation, or if we just continue as we are, that’s great.’

“They’ve set out five different scenarios just in case we can sort something out without too much drama.”
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