Wallabies coach announcement coming soon as Herbert issues warning over French talent raid

Rugby Australia boss Phil Waugh has decided on the next Wallabies coach and hopes to reveal Joe Schmidt's successor "sooner rather than later".

After months of uncertainty over who would replace Schmidt in August, Waugh says RA has landed on the right candidate. 

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Queensland Reds coach Les Kiss has been favourite since Schmidt made the call in February to leave the national set-up for family reasons. 

"We think we've landed on a good spot and we're keen to answer sooner rather than later," Waugh told reporters after RA's annual general meeting in Sydney on Wednesday. 

"I'm hoping to announce imminently. We want to get it right. We've been very considered in our processes and appointments.

"We want to give clarity to the Australian public and we are working as quickly as we can. The next coach will lead us into a home Rugby World Cup in 2027."

The revelation comes as RA issued a hands-off warning to France to stop poaching Australia's rugby talent. 

Exciting 17-year-old Heinz Lemoto is said to be the next Wallabies prospect to be lured to a French club after Visesio Kite and Nepo Leota were taken up over the past year.

A raft of other established Wallabies have defected to French rugby in recent years.

Chair Dan Herbert noted France had a population of 70 million and didn't need to "sniff around" Australia to find talent. 

"There's more than what's been reported. Our view is that France has the ability to produce its own players. They don't have to poach our players from a very young age," Herbert said. 

"There's going to be some discussions at World Rugby about what's allowed to happen at that market. 

"We have to come together on what is allowed, what is not allowed. We don't do it, most other countries don't do it."

RA's warning to France came as the governing body promised to be debt-free after next year's hosting of the British and Irish Lions.

The three-Test Lions series, the folding of the Melbourne Rebels, profits from the women's game and an estimated $240 million broadcast deal with Nine has allowed Rugby Australia to predict a surplus. 

Although the organisation is currently $36.8 million in debt, by the end of the 2025 financial year it is expected to have a $50 million surplus, the largest since after the 2003 World Cup in Australia. 

"The deficit is better than forecast," Waugh said.

"The British and Lions coming ... (lifts) the legacy debt we're carrying. Hopefully it will be paid down by the end of this year.

"The partnership with Nine through the 2026-2030 (period) gets us to a sustainable model.

"There's been strong cost discipline, as well as working with debt-stabilising companies."