25/07/2026
New Wallabies coach Les Kiss says no door is closed as he eyes overseas talent ahead of the World Cup
New Australia coach Les Kiss has made it clear he won’t shy away from picking Wallabies playing overseas if they strengthen the squad, marking a shift from the previous selection approach.
Unveiling his first squad on Thursday for next month’s two-Test series against Eddie Jones’ Japan, Kiss kept most of the fit players used by former coach Joe Schmidt during the Nations Championship.
Under Rugby Australia’s current policy, coaches are limited in how many overseas-based players they can select to encourage talent to stay in the domestic competition. Schmidt rarely used his discretionary picks during his two-year tenure.
Kiss, 61, who previously led the Queensland Reds, signaled a more flexible stance.
“We want the right players here on many levels, and we want players that can make a difference and give us what we need to win games,” he told reporters in Sydney. “We’ll look far and wide for those, and I won’t be afraid of looking overseas, that’s for sure, but at the same time respect the players that are here and what we’ve got here.”
He confirmed he’s already in contact with several offshore players, including Japan-based back Jordan Petaia, who is currently recovering from injury.
Kiss has largely retained the group Schmidt used in recent home Tests — a narrow loss to Ireland, a heavy defeat to France, and a big win over a fatigued Italy — as he begins building toward the World Cup on home soil.
