Joe Schmidt has been appointed to a coaching role with Super Rugby side, Auckland Blues.
The former Ireland head coach will work in a part-time role as a support coach, helping Blues head coach, Leon MacDonald.
The move sees Schmidt return to a club for whom he served as assistant coach between 2004 and 2007, just prior to his move to Europe.
Schmidt has dipped his toes in coaching waters only sporadically since leaving the Ireland job after the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
The 56-year old worked with the Spanish national team for a day in 2020, ahead of their Rugby Europe Championship game with Georgia.
Schmidt also took on the role of World Rugby's Director of Rugby and High Performance after the Ireland gig, but announced in September he'd be leaving that position at the end of the year to spend more time with his family.
He joins the Blues alongside new defence coach, Craig McGrath. Their appointments follow the departure of Tana Umaga, who has left to concentrate on his family business.
"I’m really looking forward to coming back and helping out the coaching staff at The Blues," said Schmidt, "I know pretty much the whole crew and it’s a nice fit stepping in for Tana, who I greatly respect.
“I have really enjoyed getting to know Leon [MacDonald]. He is doing a great job and has got the team in a really good place after their success this year.
"I’ve also got a lot of time for Ice [McGrath] and look forward to linking up with him again."
Schmidt's appointment formalises a role he'd been performing in the background anyway for a year, according to MacDonald.
"Joe has been mentoring me the last 12 months, which has been incredibly helpful," he revealed, "Having him as part of the coaching team will give us a different voice in the mix and he can also look at things through a different lens and really challenge us."
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