Joe Schmidt To Turn Down €2m England Approach
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Joe Schmidt appears unlikely to be tempted by any attempts to lure him across the Irish Sea despite reports in France that English officials will offer the IRFU more than €2m to buy out the head coach’s contract.
Schmidt’s current deal runs until 2017 and the IRFU expect him to see that out.
While the IRFU do not comment on speculation, it is understood that the reports that he is being targeted as a replacement for Stuart Lancaster are not being taken seriously and that there has been no formal approach.
It seems somewhat premature given the English union only yesterday began their review process into what went wrong as they exited their home World Cup. The investigation will be led by RFU chief executive Ian Ritchie, Professional Game Board chairman Ian Metcalfe, former players Ben Kay and Ian Watmore and ex-Lions and Scotland coach Ian McGeechan.
