Reds turn to experienced Queenslander to take over their coaching reins

Successful international coach and Queenslander Les Kiss has been appointed as Reds head coach on a three-year contract until the end of the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season.

The 58-year-old, who has 26 years of professional coaching experience across six countries and nine competitions, has agreed to a deal which will see him at the Brisbane-based outfit through until 2026.

Born in Bundaberg in Queensland, Kiss joins the Reds after a five-year stint as head coach at former Premiership club London Irish who he guided to promotion from the Championship in 2019.

Kiss continued the Exiles’ upward trend as he led the club to a fifth-place finish in the Premiership during the 2022/2023 season – their best campaign in 15 years.

However, his stint at London Irish ended when they were suspended from the Premiership after the club and its potential buyers were unable to provide reassurances over Irish’s financial ability to operate in the top flight.

Vast coaching experience

Apart from his time with the Exiles, Kiss has a vast list of coaching achievements, winning multiple pieces of silverware around the world with teams such as Ireland, Ulster, the Springboks and Waratahs.

Kiss is excited by his appointment and is keen to add value at the Reds.

“Queensland Rugby has a proud history of 140 years and I am honoured to soon be a part of that as I begin this next chapter of my coaching career at the Reds,” he said.

“It was an attractive option. The opportunity to return home to Queensland and coach at a successful club in a new world-class facility at Ballymore was something which appealed to me greatly.

“The Reds have an exciting roster which I am really looking forward to working with. There’s a pathway to the Wallabies with high-quality players boasting skill, ambition and endeavour.

“With anything in life, you need meaning and purpose. That’s already clear to see here. Brad Thorn laid a culture of fight, spirit and hard-work, plus a love for the jersey – as Queenslanders we get that.

“I am committed to building on these strong foundations to help the Reds achieve their full potential in Super Rugby.”

Queensland Rugby Union chief executive David Hanham is delighted that Kiss has joined the Reds.

“On behalf of Queensland Rugby, I would like to officially welcome Les Kiss to the Reds Family as the new Queensland head coach,” he said.

“Les comes to Ballymore with more than 20 years of professional coaching experience – including eight as a head coach across multiple club environments in the UK and Europe.

“He has had success at all levels including Six Nations titles with Ireland, Super Rugby and Pro14 finals with the Waratahs and Ulster plus English Premiership promotion at London Irish.

“Throughout an extensive three-stage selection process, Les was a standout candidate in front of an independent panel and provided us with clarity and confidence in his ability to be successful as head coach.

“As a Queenslander and having previously coached in Australia, combined with his wealth of experience and success, Les is an excellent fit for the Reds and we believe he has the right formula to take Queensland to the next level in Super Rugby.”

Kiss spent eight years as assistant coach with Ireland and during that time they won three Six Nations titles (2009, 2014, 2015) and a Grand Slam (2009). They also reached the quarter-finals at the 2011 and 2015 Rugby World Cups.

Six-year stint at the Waratahs

Prior to that, he had a six-year stint as an assistant coach with the Waratahs when they finished as Super Rugby runners-up in 2005 and 2008, and semi-finalists in 2006 – a position he replicated 10 years later at Ulster in the PRO14 where he was director of rugby with the Irish province for three years.

Kiss also served as an assistant coach in 11 Tests with the Springboks and was involved in the Stormers, Bulls and Cats/Lions Super Rugby teams between 2001 and 2002.

Before his successful rugby union coaching career, Kiss played rugby league during the 1980s and 1990s after first starting with Valleys in the Brisbane Rugby League competition.

He finished his playing career in the 13-man code with more than 100 combined appearances for North Sydney, Queensland Maroons and Australia.

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