Joe Schmidt has been linked with a sensational return to Irish rugby.
The former Ireland head coach is reportedly being considered for the position of IRFU Performance Director when David Nucifora steps down at the end of the year.
The Australian has held the role since 2014 and is expected to leave once his contract expires at the end of this year. He signed a short-term extension in October 2022 through to the end of the 2023 World Cup.
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At the time, the 61-year-old strongly hinted that the IRFU would begin looking at potential successors for when that contract expired.
In a shocking twist, the Irish Independent is reporting that Schmidt, who was head coach of Ireland between 2014 and 2019, is likely to be considered for the job.
Before taking the Ireland job, Schmidt achieved unparalleled levels of success as Leinster boss, winning three Heineken Cup trophies in his time at the helm.
The Kiwi left his role as Ireland head coach in 2019 after losing to the All-Blacks in the quarter-final of the World Cup on Tokyo. Andy Farrell took over shortly after and has achieved tremendous success with the side over the last number of years.
Schmidt hasn't held a head coaching role since leaving Ireland in 2019, though he did join the New Zealand backroom staff for last year's test series with Ireland, which Farrell's charges famously won 2-1.
The 57-year-old had been said to be interested in replacing Ian Foster as All-Blacks coach when he departs after the World Cup, but withdrew from the race in March.
Rassie Erasmus is another name that is being considered in a move that would continue the influx of South African coaches into Ireland after Jacques Nienaber agreed to replace Stuart Lancaster at Leinster.
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