League man Kiss takes charge of Wallabies for first Test

Les Kiss began his Wallabies tenure against Japan in Osaka on 8 August 2026 — the first Australia head coach who never played rugby union. He replaces Joe Schmidt, who won just two of his last 11 Tests. Eddie Jones, twice a Wallabies coach himself, sat in the Japanese coaching box opposite Kiss. The second Test is 15 August in Townsville.