Rugby Australia has confirmed the coaching team that will work under incoming Wallabies head coach Les Kiss, with scrum coach John Ulugia signing a contract extension and former Queensland Reds assistant Jonny Fisher joining the national set-up.
Ulugia, who first linked up with the Wallabies during last year's Spring Tour, has committed through to the end of 2028 and will continue to combine the role with his duties at the ACT Brumbies. Fisher, an Englishman who moved from London to Brisbane alongside Kiss before the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season, will come on board after the first leg of the Nations Championship.
The appointments sharpen the picture of the post-Joe Schmidt era. Schmidt's tenure ends after Australia's July Nations Championship Tests against Ireland, France and Italy, at which point Kiss formally takes charge of the side.
Ulugia, a former Waratahs and Brumbies hooker who also made more than 150 Top 14 appearances for Clermont and Bayonne, said the extension meant a great deal.
"It is a privilege to extend my time with the Wallabies. We have a vastly experienced coaching staff here, and I'm eager to continue to work alongside them," he said. "Collaborating with Mike [Cron] has been an invaluable learning experience, and I'll look to keep drawing on his expertise as we strengthen the foundations of this proud playing group."
Cron, the renowned scrum guru, stepped back from a full-time role into an advisory position with Rugby Australia, with Ulugia taking on the day-to-day scrum work after joining the squad last year.
Fisher, who played more than 100 professional matches in the UK and represented England Sevens and the England Saxons, said he had been struck by the group's appetite.
"It's clear this group is incredibly hungry to succeed and are keen to work hard for each other," Fisher said. "My role will be to support them in every way possible, contributing to a program that sets these players up to perform consistently on the international stage."
Rugby Australia director of high performance Peter Horne framed the dual announcement as one about stability heading into a home Rugby World Cup.
"We are delighted to secure both John and Jonny for the Wallabies coaching team," Horne said. "John has thrived during his time at the Brumbies and under the ongoing mentorship of Mike Cron. He made a positive impact on the Wallabies environment from the moment he joined the squad last year and we are excited to continue that association moving forward."
Horne noted Fisher's long association with Kiss, dating back to their time at London Irish and, more recently, the Reds. "Together with Les, Scott McLeod, Tom Donnelly and Eoin Toolan, they bring with them a deep understanding of our domestic talent, gained through their extensive Super Rugby Pacific experience, which is a major asset," he said.
"They are both dedicated professionals who bring expertise, stability and continuity to the squad for this Test window and building into next year's home Rugby World Cup."
The wider Kiss ticket now reads Ulugia on the scrum, Fisher as an assistant, defence coach Scott McLeod — the former All Blacks assistant who signed a three-year deal in March — plus Tom Donnelly and Eoin Toolan. For a Wallabies program rebuilding towards a home World Cup in 2027, continuity has become the watchword.
