Auckland Blues coach to replace next Wallabies coach Les Kiss in 2027
Queensland Reds life has been confirmed after Les Kiss and the club has lured New Zealand manager Vern Cotter to Ballymore from 2027.
Cotter, who currently leads the Auckland Blues, has signed a two-year deal to replace Kiss after taking over the reins of the Wallabies at the end of the upcoming Super Rugby Pacific season.
Vern Cotter: “I’ve done my homework. The Queensland mentality is strong.”Credit: Mike Hewitt
The Premiership-winning mentor has an international pedigree, having guided the Blues to the 2024 title and Clermont Auvergne to the French Top 14, while also leading Scotland to the 2015 Rugby World Cup and Fiji from 2020 to 2023.
“You don’t want to go into an obscure organization in professional sport. The Queensland Rugby Union has already shown that there are really smart people in this business, they’re organized and they’ve got a vision,” Cotter said.
“Every time I’ve been involved in sport it’s been about people. I had a connection with Sam Cordingley.” [Reds general manager of high performance] Since my days in Clermont, France.
“I was delighted and flattered when he contacted me about the position. I’m fascinated by Australian rugby and Australian sport. I’m excited to work in this culture and when the QRU set out their plans for the Reds it was overwhelming.”
“I’ve done my homework. Queensland’s mentality is strong. The history of players producing for the Reds and Wallabies and the youth nursery behind them tells me there is room for the Reds to continue to grow.
“I pride myself on always trying to improve myself as a coach and I firmly believe this can make me a better coach. ‘We train to win’ is always my position.”
Kiss’s decision to delay his ascent to the job in Australia bought the Reds time to conduct a worldwide hunt; Joe Schmidt has remained at the Wallabies until mid-2026 rather than initially planned to be before last year’s Spring Tour.
