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Kiss helped Ireland win a Six Nations title in 2009 (and the first Grand Slam in 61 years) and again with Schmidt in 2014-15. Kiss also went to two World Cups, and in 2011 helped derailed the Wallabies tournament with an upset win, in no small part due to a masterful tactic he created: the choke-tackle.
Kiss always held an aspiration to become a head coach in rugby, however, and after a successful interim stint coaching Ireland between the Kidney and Schmidt eras, the Australian was appointed as director of rugby at Irish province Ulster.
After three years in Belfast, Kiss moved to England and became head coach of London Irish, where he continued to coach against the best teams in Europe until the club went belly-up in 2023.
The Queensland job became vacant at the same time, leading Kiss to make a return home.
Kiss had amply proved his coaching credentials at the Reds, finishing fifth last year and having the team well-positioned in fourth spot this season.
“I played rugby league as a kid but I am 25 years now in rugby, and that’s far longer than I ever played or coached at the highest level in league,” Kiss said last year.
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“The league got me here and I love the game still, but I am fortunate to have a history and a life in both. There has definitely been a lot of water under the bridge, between leaving and coming back here.”
“I guess I was hungry to make sure I made it in union. It was a project for me. It was a personal drive and ambition to make sure I nail this down.
“My journey, you always felt like you had to earn your stripes, as a leaguie. Coming into union, I was very diligent. I researched the game and I became a student of the game. I was patient and I knew I had, not so much to learn, but I knew I had to gain the experiences I needed.”
Former Wallabies coach Eddie Jones endorsed Kiss as a Test calibre coach last week.
Les Kiss and Joe Schmidt with Ireland in 2015.Credit: Getty
“He’s done a great apprenticeship,” Jones said.
“He coached in Ulster, did great job at London Irish, and had a number of good mentors around him. He seems to have done a pretty good job at the Reds, so it’s a good opportunity for him. He’s definitely done a lot of good hard work, so I hope it goes well for him.”
Kiss helped Ireland win a Six Nations title in 2009 (and the first Grand Slam in 61 years) and again with Schmidt in 2014-15. Kiss also went to two World Cups, and in 2011 helped derailed the Wallabies tournament with an upset win, in no small part due to a masterful tactic he created: the choke-tackle.
Kiss always held an aspiration to become a head coach in rugby, however, and after a successful interim stint coaching Ireland between the Kidney and Schmidt eras, the Australian was appointed as director of rugby at Irish province Ulster.
After three years in Belfast, Kiss moved to England and became head coach of London Irish, where he continued to coach against the best teams in Europe until the club went belly-up in 2023.
The Queensland job became vacant at the same time, leading Kiss to make a return home.
Kiss had amply proved his coaching credentials at the Reds, finishing fifth last year and having the team well-positioned in fourth spot this season.
“I played rugby league as a kid but I am 25 years now in rugby, and that’s far longer than I ever played or coached at the highest level in league,” Kiss said last year.
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“The league got me here and I love the game still, but I am fortunate to have a history and a life in both. There has definitely been a lot of water under the bridge, between leaving and coming back here.”
“I guess I was hungry to make sure I made it in union. It was a project for me. It was a personal drive and ambition to make sure I nail this down.
“My journey, you always felt like you had to earn your stripes, as a leaguie. Coming into union, I was very diligent. I researched the game and I became a student of the game. I was patient and I knew I had, not so much to learn, but I knew I had to gain the experiences I needed.”
Former Wallabies coach Eddie Jones endorsed Kiss as a Test calibre coach last week.
Les Kiss and Joe Schmidt with Ireland in 2015.Credit: Getty
“He’s done a great apprenticeship,” Jones said.
“He coached in Ulster, did great job at London Irish, and had a number of good mentors around him. He seems to have done a pretty good job at the Reds, so it’s a good opportunity for him. He’s definitely done a lot of good hard work, so I hope it goes well for him.”
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