LEINSTER COACH Joe Schmidt has told New Zealand radio that while he has always fulfilled his contracts with various teams, the pull to return to New Zealand will be strong when his 18-year-old daughter returns home to continue her education.
Schmidt’s name had been connected with the Blues coaching job in Auckland, where he was a former assistant, but he insisted he would honour his agreement with European Champions Leinster, for another year.
His contract runs out after next season.
“For me, it just doesn’t fall at the right time,” said Schmidt, talking to Newstalk ZB about the Blues job. “I’m on a contract here and there isn’t one situation in the 10 years I’ve been doing this sort of job that I haven’t filled my obligation to a contract. I’m not going to start doing that now . . . unfortunately.
“Sometimes jobs don’t fall at the right time. I still, whenever I get the chance, look out for the Blues and follow them. I certainly feel for (coach) Pat Lam. He’s a good man and a good coach. It’s been a tough year, but most clubs have a tough year at some stage and build from it.”
Leinster, who face Ospreys at the RDS on Sunday (4pm), are looking to complete the domestic and European double when they play in the PRO 12 final.
Schmidt, who has had a remarkable two seasons since arriving in Dublin, added he had no plans beyond next year, saying he’s a “useless victim of non-planning”. But he did say he will return to New Zealand at some stage.
His daughter is planning to return to New Zealand to study at university next year which, Schmidt said, would be a big pull.
“I will definitely end up back there [in New Zealand]. I don’t know if I will be coaching or what I will be doing,” he said. “You are never secure as a coach. You are under someone else’s control or at the whim of whoever is selecting coaches.
“There’s the old adage that there are only two types of coaches, ones who have been fired and others waiting to be fired.
“We used to have a sweepstake at Clermont at the start of each season to see which coach from which club was going to be fired first. I thought it was a bit of a joke until six weeks in, the first coach got fired and I thought, ‘gee, that’s pretty ruthless’. That’s part of the reason why I don’t really do any particular planning.”
The Blues advertised the coaching position – which has been linked to Eddie O’Sullivan – last weekend.
