JOE Schmidt has agreed to remain in charge of Ireland until June 2017 after penning a one-year extension to his contract.
A back-to-back Six Nations winner, Schmidt has been key to Ireland’s recent success and he’ll lead the side into the 2015 World Cup as fourth favourites.
Ireland have won 16 of the 20 Tests they have played under Schmidt, who has been in charge since 2013 after guiding Leinster to two Heineken Cups, two Pro12 titles and a European Challenge Cup.
News of Schmidt’s new deal comes less than three weeks ahead of Ireland’s first World Cup warm-up game, which is against Wales in Cardiff on August 8.
