Joe Schmidt outlines part-time Ulster coaching role and visit schedule

Joe Schmidt has provided new details about how his part-time position with Ulster Rugby will operate, including a schedule of further visits and remote work. The former Ireland and Australia head coach is serving as Ulster's coach development adviser, a newly created role intended to support coaches across the province rather than place him on the senior team's full-time staff.

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The42 reported on Saturday that Schmidt is currently working on site with Ulster and plans to remain for two more weeks beyond this week. He is then scheduled to return for the whole of November and again in April 2027. Between those periods, Schmidt said he will continue working online with coaches, building on remote work he has already completed.

His remit extends beyond the professional squad to coaches in Ulster's provincial structures, schools and clubs. Schmidt said the initial phase is investigative: he wants to understand how coaches are identified, how they move through the existing pathway and what support they receive. He also stressed the value of challenging coaches as part of their development, while stopping short of claiming that his previous experience provides ready-made answers.

Schmidt said his relationship with Ulster general manager Rory Best was an important factor in accepting the position. The pair worked together during Schmidt's tenure as Ireland head coach, with Best serving as national captain for four years. Schmidt indicated that his longstanding connection with Irish rugby, along with the possibility that his experience could help Ulster, made the limited advisory assignment attractive.

The appointment gives Ulster access to one of the most experienced coaches in international rugby. Schmidt guided Leinster to two Heineken Cup titles and led Ireland to three Six Nations championships, including the 2018 Grand Slam. He was named World Rugby Coach of the Year that season, later assisted New Zealand during their run to the 2023 World Cup final and then spent two years as Australia's head coach.

Schmidt also explained that the role's part-time structure was part of its appeal after roughly 25 years in professional coaching. It allows him to reduce his workload and spend more time with family while still contributing directly to coach development. For Ulster, the planned mix of concentrated visits and continued online contact establishes a defined framework for using that experience throughout the coming season.