Source : ABC NEWS
For much of his career across the two rugby codes, Les Kiss has been in demand.
In 1985, North Sydney Bears coach Brian “Chicka” Norton travelled to Brisbane on a recruitment drive during the off-season.
Norton’s main target was Gary Belcher, who had recently played fullback in Souths’ premiership-winning team in the Brisbane Rugby League competition.
The Bears couldn’t afford the asking price for Belcher, however, and he would eventually sign with the Canberra Raiders and become one of their greats.
Norton, though, took note of recommendations given to him about Kiss, who was making an impression as a winger with the storied Valley Diehards club.
“Les Kiss is the man we want,” Norton told Bears officials, who signed the Bundaberg product for the following season.
It proved to be a wise decision, with Kiss excelling to such an extent he made his Test and State of Origin debut during his first year with the Bears.
Fast-forward to 2025, and Kiss became the man Rugby Australia (RA) wanted to replace Joe Schmidt as Wallabies coach.
Joe Schmidt (left) joined the Wallabies program in 2024. (Getty Images: Clive Rose)
Initially, RA hoped for a post-Rugby Championship transition in October following Schmidt’s decision to stand down for family reasons.
But after a drawn-out process, Schmidt agreed to stay on until mid-2026, from which point Kiss will be handed the reins once his three-year contract as Queensland Reds coach expires.
Kiss’s 25-year rugby journey
Snobs in the Australian rugby union community may be incredulous a former league player has been handed such a prestigious position.
But Kiss is no newcomer to the “game they play in heaven”.
He has cut his teeth across several countries during a 25-year span in rugby union, working in both national and club programs.
“It’s a long process,” said Kiss, as he discussed his transition between the rugby codes at an RA media conference in Sydney on Wednesday.
“Coming from the 80s … changing into rugby, I think you learn a lot of things along the way but one thing that is absolutely important is you don’t get anywhere on your own.
“Places that build strong people around you, that have a team focus, those are the teams that win premierships.
“Those are the teams that grow and continue to meet the challenges on any level.”
After holding down coaching positions in rugby league, Kiss switched codes to become a defence consultant in South Africa across 2001 and 2002.
Kiss’s influence was evident at the Test level when the Springboks conceded just three tries during the 2001 Tri-Nations tournament.
Kiss (right) worked with the Waratahs early in his coaching career. (Getty Images: Mark Nolan)
Assistant coach roles with the Waratahs — working under Bob Dwyer and Ewen McKenzie — and the Australia A team further consolidated Kiss’s reputation as a defensive specialist.
He was recruited by Ireland head coach Declan Kidney ahead of the 2009 Six Nations, enjoying immediate success when the Irish claimed their first Grand Slam in 61 years.
During Kidney’s reign, Kiss was credited with introducing the “choke tackle”, which was used to great effect when Ireland upset the Wallabies 15—6 at Auckland’s Eden Park during the pool stage at the 2011 World Cup.
Will Genia was a particular target, and he fell victim to the defensive ploy when Ireland back-rower Stephen Ferris famously wrapped up the Wallabies scrum half and drove him back more than 10 metres.
“We’ve focused on closing down the options Genia has,” Kiss said before the match, giving a glimpse of his thoroughness as a coach.
“We’ve got to concentrate on picking the right moment to put pressure on him.”
Kiss (left) was as an assistant coach under Schmidt with Ireland between 2013 and 2015. (Getty Images/Sportsfile: Seb Daly)
Kiss later served as Ireland’s interim head coach for two Tests, following Kidney’s sacking in 2013, before joining Schmidt’s staff when the New Zealander was appointed to the permanent role.
Ireland won consecutive Six Nations crowns with Kiss working alongside Schmidt, but exited the 2015 Rugby World Cup earlier than expected in the quarterfinal stage.
After the Rugby World Cup, Kiss joined Irish powerhouse Ulster on a full-time basis as its director of rugby, but his tenure produced inconsistent results and he departed in January 2018.
Kiss was named London Irish head coach two months later and while he could not avoid relegation from England’s top-flight premiership, the club did win the second-tier competition the following the season to earn promotion.
London Irish punched above its weight to finish fifth in the 2022/23 premiership before financial difficulties led to the club’s demise, leading Kiss back to his home state of Queensland ahead of the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season.
Doubts over Kiss’s credentials
While Kiss’s CV is bursting with international experience, there will be critics pointing to the fact he has not won a title in a top-tier domestic tournament.
Eddie Jones (Brumbies, 2001), Ewen McKenzie (Reds, 2011) and Michael Cheika (Waratahs, 2014) all won Super Rugby championships in the professional era prior to coaching the Wallabies.
And Rugby World Cup-winning coaches Bob Dwyer and Rod Macqueen enjoyed great success at club and provincial level respectively before leading the national side.
In February, following Schmidt’s announcement he would not lead the Wallabies through to the 2027 Rugby World Cup, Australian coaching doyen John Connolly suggested RA again look offshore to find a replacement.
Connolly, who oversaw the Wallabies in 2006 and 2007, told News Corp none of the four Australian Super Rugby Pacific coaches had “stand-out resumes”.
It contrasted with the situation in New Zealand rugby when they were choosing a successor to All Blacks coach Ian Foster after it was decided he would finish up at the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Scott Robertson had won multiple Super Rugby titles with the Crusaders before being picked ahead of Jamie Joseph, who claimed silverware with the Highlanders and guided Japan to a historic Rugby World Cup quarterfinal appearance in 2019.
Kiss has coached the Queensland Reds the past two seasons. (Getty Images: Kai Schwoerer)
In Kiss’s defence, he has time to win over sceptics.
The Reds are in finals contention in this year’s Super Rugby Pacific competition, sitting in fourth place on the standings after 11 rounds.
He will have another bite of the cherry when he sees out the third season of his Reds’ contract next year before linking up with the Wallabies.
In his favour as a coach, Kiss has the unwavering support of his players.
This is illustrated by several Reds stars — including Wallabies captain Harry Wilson and Fraser McReight — signing long-term contract extensions to stay at Ballymore.
Kiss can be described as a “player’s coach” and this trait wouldn’t have gone unnoticed when RA came chasing his services.
Even though RA had hoped Schmidt would take the Wallabies through to the next Rugby World Cup, the fact the governing body agreed to Kiss seeing out his Reds deal indicates how keen they were to have the 60-year-old on board.
Just like the North Sydney Bears back in the 80s, RA got the man they wanted.
