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Reds sign Super Rugby winner Vern Cotter as Les Kiss' replacement
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Queensland Reds have landed a major coaching coup, signing the Blues' Super Rugby Pacific-winning coach Vern Cotter as Les Kiss' replacement.
Cotter will join the Reds on a two-year deal for 2027 and 2028 Super seasons, the Kiwi following a well-worn trail of his countrymen jumping across the Tasman Sea.
The 63-year-old former Scotland and Fiji boss also tasted success with Clermont-Auvergne in France's Top 14 and will arrive at Ballymore with an impressing 25-year coaching resume.
Cotter said he was impressed with the Queensland Rugby Union's vision and excited by the level of rising talent he would have to work with in Brisbane.
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Life for the Queensland Reds after Les Kiss has been confirmed, with the club drawing New Zealand coach Vern Cotter to Ballymore from 2027.
Cotter, now spearheading the Auckland Blues, has inked a two-year deal to succeed Kiss once the latter assume the Wallabies’ reins at the end of the looming Super Rugby Pacific campaign.
Vern Cotter: “I did my homework. The Queensland mindset is strong.”Credit: Mike Hewitt
The premiership-winning mentor guided the Blues to the 2024 premiership and Clermont Auvergne to glory in the French Top 14, while he also holds international pedigree having led Scotland to the 2015 Rugby World Cup and Fiji from 2020 to 2023.
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Blues coach leaving for Aussie Super Rugby side, ruling out ABs job
Vern Cotter’s third year as Blues head coach will be his last.
The Herald understands Cotter will finish up with the Blues at the end of the 2026 season and take over as the Queensland Reds head coach the following year.
Outgoing Reds head coach Les Kiss is set to
assume the Wallabies head coaching post from Joe Schmidt in July.
Cotter committing to the Reds rules him out of the race to replace Scott Robertson as All Blacks head coach, stripping another option from the contenders and potential coaching teams.
Schmidt has also ruled himself out of contention for the All Blacks while highly regarded assistant Tony Brown is committed to the Springboks through to the 2027 World Cup. Wayne Smith is also departing New Zealand rugby.
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