Bombshell.

The news that Joe Schmidt will leave Ireland at the end of the 2019 Rugby World Cup hasn’t come as too much of a shock here. While Irish fans are hugely disappointed he’s leaving – most us saw the signs that the New Zealander was ready to finish up.

But the big surprise both here and back in New Zealand is the fact that he’s going to step away from coaching altogether. Nobody can truly say they saw that coming. Schmidt was recently named the best coach in the world – and could pretty much have any job he wants. Even the hottest ticket in world rugby – coaching the All Blacks.

That won’t happen though – at least not for a while anyway. He’s effectively ruled himself out of the running to replace Steve Hansen next year, and the Kiwis are shocked to say the least. A headline in the New Zealand Herald this morning read, ‘All Blacks bombshell – Ireland coach Joe Schmidt makes shock announcement’.

“Joe Schmidt will not be putting his name in the ring as the next All Blacks head coach.” the article read

“In a shock announcement, Schmidt has revealed that he will finish coaching following the Rugby World Cup in Japan next year”

“While many expected him to step down as Ireland head coach, his decision to apparently step away from coaching altogether was a major surprise, with many having pegged Schmidt as the next All Blacks coach.”

“The Kiwi-born coach had just last week led Ireland to a 16-9 victory over the All Blacks, and if All Blacks coach Steve Hansen was to step away after the World Cup, Schmidt was widely tipped as the favourite to take over.”

Elsewhere Stuff.co.nz went with the headline, ‘Joe Schmidt to quit coaching after Rugby World Cup’.

”Just hours after being named as World Rugby’s top coach, the New Zealander appears to have ruled out any chance of him coaching the All Blacks.” the article read

“Schmidt had been touted as a future All Blacks coach, but seems to have ruled that out with his statement.”

Will Schmidt stay ‘retired’ for long? Somehow we doubt it. There’s still a chance he’ll end up as All Blacks coach. But he certainly won’t be replacing Steve Hansen.