Joe Schmidt to take consultancy role with Ulster Rugby

Former Ireland and Leinster head coach Joe Schmidt is set to take a consultancy role with Ulster Rugby, offering guidance to the province’s age-grade coaches.The IRFU has approved the arrangement which seeks to assist the development of coaches in the province. Confirmation of the news is expected in the coming days.A similar consultancy approach was taken at senior level by Leinster in 2016 when former All Blacks head coach Graham Henry was brought in at the request of head coach Leo Cullen, and Munster recently had another New Zealander, Chris Boyd, as a performance consultant during the 2024/2025 season.Schmidt, meanwhile, is expected to make several visits to the province as part of his work with their age-grade coaches. READ MOREUlster senior head coach Richie Murphy, who was part of Schmidt’s coaching ticket at both Leinster and Ireland, was consulted on the appointment, and believes the Kiwi will add significant value to their coach education pathway. However, he will not have any dealings with the senior side.Schmidt recently ended his tenure as head coach of the Wallabies, departing the role after the conclusion of the Nations Championship southern series. He has been succeeded by Ulster’s former director of rugby, Les Kiss.During Schmidt’s time as head coach at Leinster, Murphy spent three seasons at the province as a skills/kicking coach and followed him into the Ireland set-up in 2013, remaining as part of the coaching ticket up to Schmidt’s departure following the 2019 World Cup.Murphy took over as head coach of the Ireland under-20s in 2021, leading teams to successive Six Nations Grand Slams in 2022 and 2023, also reaching a World Junior Championship final in South Africa.Following the departure of Dan McFarland as Ulster head coach in February 2024, Murphy took interim charge at the province to the end of the season. In May 2025, he signed a two-year deal to take up the role in a permanent capacity and has since signed a contract extension that will take him to 2028.Ulster will also welcome a new forwards coach, New Zealander Clarke Dermody, taking over from Jimmy Duffy who has moved to Munster.