Waikato Chiefs confirm interest in Ireland coach Joe Schmidt

Waikato Chiefs chief executive Andrew Flaxman has admitted that he is keen to speak to Ireland coach Joe Schmidt about a return to Super Rugby.

Schmidt has guided Ireland to two Six Nations titles, but saw his much-fancied side crash out of last year's Rugby World Cup in the quarter-finals.

However, Flaxman is considering Schmidt to succeed Dave Rennie as Chiefs boss and has also suggested that the Kiwi could return home by 2018.

He is quoted by the Irish Times as saying: "Joe is definitely a guy we'd be interested in having a discussion with.

"I've been made aware of the fact there's the potential for him to look at moving home next year and there's been some attention around the Highlanders having some interest in him."

Schmidt became Irish coach in 2013 after guiding Leinster to two Heineken Cup titles in three years.