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Joe Schmidt linked to Bath - reports

By Online Editors
(Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Former Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt has been linked to a move to Premiership side Bath.

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Midi Olympique are linking the much sought after coach with the West Country club, where 38-year-old Stuart Hooper currently resides as Director of Rugby.

Should Schmidt take up a role with Bath, it would see him link up with former Leinster backs coach Girvan Dempsey.

Schmidt, who left the Ireland job following the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan, had indicated that he was going to step away from the game, at least for a period of time.

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WATCH: Rory Best and Joe Schmidt’s reflect on their side loss to the All Blacks in the RWC quarter finals.

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“I know I’m not going to do (coaching) in the near future,” said the 54-year-old, following the Rugby World Cup. “I made a commitment that I’m going to absolutely stick to, through to at least June or July of next year.

“It hasn’t been a job, it has been a way of life. It has been seven days a week and I think I can honestly say, in six and a half years I’ve not taken one full day off.”

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Rated major contenders a year out from the tournament, Ireland crashed out of the quarter-finals with a 46-14 thrashing by the All Blacks, continuing their record of never winning a knockout game at the global showpiece.

Schmidt, who has been succeeded by assistant coach Andy Farrell, said he had been “blown away” by offers of coaching positions but would not entertain any until the middle of next year.

In October Schmidt said he would enjoy being a spectator for a change and expected Farrell and the Irish team to continue to do a “super job”.

“I’m really looking forward to the Six Nations,” he added.

“Instead of looking through the glass, I might just have one in my hand and I’m looking forward to that.”

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– Additional reporting, AAP

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Bull Shark 2 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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