Ireland’s three-test summer tour to New Zealand is about to get a whole lot more interesting given the report that Joe Schmidt is set to join the All Blacks’ coaching staff. News that the former Leinster and Ireland head man is about to link up with Ian Foster’s brains trust as a selector has surfaced on the Kiwi media outlet stuff.co.nz which claims that Schmidt will replace the outgoing Grant Fox. Schmidt announced late in 2018 that he intended retiring from coaching completely, and not just from his then role as Ireland head coach. This isn’t the first time that Schmidt has been fitted for a blazer with the silver fern on the crest. Another All Black selector, John Plumtree, served for a season under Schmidt as Ireland’s forwards coach almost a decade ago.

Source: Stuff December 13, 2021 14:17 UTC