Scott McLeod appointed Wallabies defence coach ahead of 2027 Rugby World Cup

Former All Blacks defence coach Scott McLeod, 53, has joined the Australian Wallabies as defence coach under new head coach Les Kiss. McLeod, who played for the All Blacks in the late 1990s and later served as their defence coach from 2018‑2023, will begin reshaping Australia’s defensive structures as the team prepares for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, scheduled 422 days from now.

McLeod recalled the 1998 Bledisloe Cup loss at the MCG and said the aim is to blend strong defence with attacking flair, targeting a higher try‑scoring rate – 24 tries in the 1999 World Cup versus 11 in the most recent tournament. He started work in Sydney and will oversee the Wallabies’ first match under his guidance in Osaka.