Joe Schmidt declined All Blacks role in 2017 - NZR CEO Steve Tew

New Zealand Rugby chief executive Steve Tew revealed that current Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt turned down an offer to be part of All Blacks backroom staff last year.

The New Zealand board approached Schmidt as a replacement for assistant coach Wayne Smith, who left the job last year. The idea from Tew was to bring the 53-year-old back into his country of birth and become an eventual replacement for Steve Hansen when the latter exits the role post his contract in 2019 World Cup.

Despite, the offer to be part of a successful New Zealand set up, Schmidt decided to stay on with the Ireland team until 2019 World Cup and recently announced that he will end his coaching career with the showpiece event next year to spend more time with his family.

Schmidt had tremendous success with Ireland side driving them to 2014 and 2015 Six Nations title before they went on to achieve the Grand Slam in 2018. He also led them to a 2-1 series win against Wallabies in Australia and an undefeated autumn international campaign including a win against New Zealand in Dublin after earlier beating them in Chicago.

"I have decided to finish coaching and will prioritise family commitments after the Rugby World Cup in 2019," Schmidt told the official Irish Rugby Football Union website in November.

"I feel that Irish rugby is in good hands. The management and players have been incredible to work with and the tremendous support we have had, particularly at home in the Aviva, but wherever we have travelled has been uplifting.

"Thank you to the IRFU for their support and patience and thanks also to so many people who have adopted my family and me, making us feel part of the community here in Ireland.

"There are some inspiring challenges over the next 11 months so there's plenty of motivation for me to continue working hard, alongside the other management staff, so that the team can be as competitive as possible."