Over to you Joe. Schmidt moves even closer to succeeding Kidney as Ireland boss

Leinster coach Joe Schmidt would be the first choice of a lot of Irish rugby fans to succeed Declan Kidney as Irish coach and reports this morning suggest the job is his if he wants it.

Schmidt emerged as the favourite to become the new Irish coach last weekend amidst reports that the IRFU had made overtures towards the Kiwi native, who was overseen a phenomenal few years of success with the Blues since arriving in Dublin in 2010.

Queensland Reds coach Ewen McKenzie, current Wales defence coach Shaun Edwards and Les Kiss, who has been installed as interim coach for the summer tour of North America, have also been linked with the role in recent weeks.

A report in today’s Irish Independent suggests that the IRFU are currently setting up a list of interviewees and hope to appoint Kidney’s successor by the end of the month. Irish Independent sources suggest that while all candidates will be interviewed for the role, Schmidt is the man the IRFU are after and the job will be his if he is keen to take it on.

It has been said in the past that Schmidt is keen to return home to New Zealand eventually but for now he and his family seem well settled in Dublin and although his contract with Leinster doesn’t expire until next summer, it now appears as if there is a very good chance that the IRFU will get their man.

If he does get the gig, Les Kiss is expected to remain on as defence coach but Schmidt will likely seek a new forwards coach to replace Gert Smal.

Over to you Joe.