Come home.

IRFU performance director David Nucifora has revealed that New Zealand did everything in their power to bring Joe Schmidt home last year, before he signed a contract extension to keep him in Ireland until after the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

Even since the contract extension, Schmidt’s name has been mentioned by NZRU boss Steve Tew on multiple occasions, with All Blacks boss Steve Hansen set to leave his role with the world champions in 2019.

It appears getting Schmidt to sign an extension next time round, will be an even tougher task, with Nucifora reluctant to begin negotiations two years out.

“You guys have all spoken with Joe, no point having a discussion he doesn’t want to have,” Nucifora said yesterday

“New Zealand did everything they possibly could to get Joe back, absolutely everything, a lot didn’t bubble to the surface, but there was a lot of pressure.”

“He has been away a long, long time I suppose that will be a decision he’ll make closer to the time, we’re not going to be bugging him with two years left on his current contract.”

Schmidt has been in Ireland since 2010, and you can’t help but think if they right role comes up, he might just head home this time.