Kiwi poaching raid confirmed as Kiss successor revealed

1 month ago 21

Life for the Queensland Reds after Les Kiss has been confirmed, with the club drawing New Zealand coach Vern Cotter to Ballymore from 2027.

Cotter, now spearheading the Auckland Blues, has inked a two-year deal to succeed Kiss once the latter assume the Wallabies’ reins at the end of the looming Super Rugby Pacific campaign.

“I did my homework. The Queensland mindset is strong.”

The premiership-winning mentor guided the Blues to the 2024 premiership and Clermont Auvergne to glory in the French Top 14, while he also holds international pedigree having led Scotland to the 2015 Rugby World Cup and Fiji from 2020 to 2023.

“In professional sport, you don’t want to be walking into a vague organisation. The Queensland Rugby Union has already shown it has some really smart people in the business, they are organised, and they have a vision,” Cotter said.

“Every time I’ve taken a role in sport, it’s been about the people. I’ve had a connection with Sam Cordingley [Reds general manager of high performance] since my days at Clermont in France.

“When I was contacted about the position, I was chuffed and proud. Australian rugby and Australian sport fascinates me. To work in that culture excites me and when the QRU laid out their plans for the Reds, it was compelling.

“I did my homework. The Queensland mindset is strong. The history of players who have been produced for the Reds and Wallabies, and the junior nurseries behind them, tells me there is scope for the Reds to keep growing.

“I pride myself on always looking to improve myself as a coach and I certainly feel this can make me a better coach. ‘We train to win’ is always my position.”

The decision to delay Kiss’ ascent to the Australian job had bought the Reds time to conduct a worldwide hunt, with Joe Schmidt remaining with the Wallabies until mid-2026 rather than what was initially meant to be before last year’s Spring Tour.

Cordingley confirmed they were determined to bring a title-winner to the club, with Queensland showing promising signs under Kiss but falling in the quarterfinals for the past two seasons.

QRU chief executive Dave Hanham said Cotter’s “character and how strongly he aligns with the values that define us as an organisation” stood out from a host of candidates.

“His record of sustained success speaks for itself but just as compelling is the positive impact he has on people, teams and the environments he leads. That influence is unmistakable,” Hanham said.

“Vern aligns strongly with our ambition to keep growing and improving every day, in every moment, and through every action. He understands the legacy he is stepping into and is committed to adding to it.”