Life for the Queensland Reds after Les Kiss has been confirmed, with the club bringing New Zealand coach Vern Cotter to Ballymore from 2027.
Cotter, now in charge of the Auckland Blues, has signed a two-year deal to succeed Kiss once Kiss takes over the Wallabies reins at the end of the looming Super Rugby Pacific campaign.
Vern Cotter: “I’ve done my homework. The Queensland mindset is strong.”Credit: Mike Hewitt
The premiership-winning mentor led the Blues to a premiership in 2024 and Clermont Auvergne to French Top 14 glory, while he also has international pedigree, having led Scotland to the 2015 Rugby World Cup and Fiji between 2020 and 2023.
“You don’t want to get into a vague organization in professional sport. The Queensland Rugby Union has already shown they have really smart people in the business, they’re organized and they have a vision,” Cotter said.
“Every time I’ve taken on a role in sport it’s been about people. I’ve had a connection with Sam Cordingley.” [Reds general manager of high performance] since my days in Clermont, France.
“When I was contacted about the position, I was excited and proud. I’m fascinated by Australian rugby and Australian sport. It excites me to work in this culture and when the QRU presented its plans for the Reds, it was compelling.
“I’ve done my homework. The mindset of Queensland is strong. The history of players that have been produced for the Reds and Wallabies and the junior nurseries behind them tells me there is room for further growth for the Reds.
“I pride myself on always trying to improve as a coach, and I definitely feel it can make me a better coach. ‘We coach to win’ is always my position.”
The decision to delay Kiss’s takeover of the Australian spot has given the Reds time for a global hunt, with Joe Schmidt staying with the Wallabies until mid-2026, rather than what was originally intended ahead of last spring’s tour.
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