EXCLUSIVE: Joe Schmidt will NOT be the British & Irish Lions coach

The Kiwi will stay on with Ireland for the upcoming November Series and next year's Six Nations.

Joe Schmidt has ruled himself out of the running to be the British & Irish Lions head coach for the 2017 tour to New Zealand. SportsJOE understands Schmidt informed the Lions' management of his decision at the conclusion of this year's Six Nations.

The decision is borne from Schmidt's unwillingness to be away from his family for protracted periods - scouting across the home nations, Europe and New Zealand, and overseeing the travel and training logistics. Schmidt's 12-year-old son, Luke, suffers from epilepsy and overcame a brain tumour at the age of 4. Having a set base a minimising travel is key for the Ireland coach.

The New Zealander is also unwilling to step away from his Irish commitments for the best part of a year. The requirement for Lions head coach is to step down from his national role ahead of the upcoming Tests in November.

Lions manager John Spencer had claimed, on Thursday, that the top coaching candidates would be interviewed 'any time now' before an official announcement would be made in September. Schmidt and Vern Cotter were claimed to be on that interview list.

It is more likely that Wales' Warren Gatland has already got the head coach role secured but the Lions are attempting to drum up the appearance of a three-horse race. England boss Eddie Jones followed Schmidt's lead when, in June, he told the BBC that he was not interested in the role.

Gatland led the Lions to a 2-1 series win over Australia in 2013. There was hope, in certain well-placed quarters, that Gatland and Schmidt could form a management team. The lack of clarity from the Lions' end may have helped accelerate Schmidt's decision.

As for Schmidt's Ireland future, there is no definitive update.

He told SportsJOE, in early June, that he would make a call on extending his Ireland contract following the summer tour to South Africa.

There are two ways to look upon the news that Schmidt has rejected a Lions job. He is either fully committed to Ireland all the way until the 2019 World Cup or he will step away next summer but give the IRFU a full year to implement a succession plan.

Irish supporters should find out, either way, next month.

Next up for the Ireland coach is a testing series of Tests later in the year. Ireland face New Zealand twice in 14 days, welcome Canada in between and will round out the year by taking on the Wallabies.

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