The weeks before Christmas are traditionally a period where meaningful work is dialled down and hangovers are dialled up.

But Rugby Australia currently finds itself sweating on two big pieces of business deep into the festive season, the outcomes of which are set to have a huge bearing on the success of the code in Australia in the second half of the decade.

In no particular order, the two outstanding agenda items – both of which may be concluded in the next fortnight –are Joe Schmidt’s long-term future as Wallabies coach, and a deal for the broadcast rights of Australian rugby for 2026-2030.

Schmidt is back in New Zealand after a post-spring tour stay in Dublin, and weighing up whether to extend his contract beyond the British and Irish Lions series in July next year.

After a year of promising growth by the Wallabies that blossomed during November, RA has made no secret of its desire to extend Schmidt’s tenure through to the 2027 World Cup in Australia.

Joe Schmidt has been outstanding for the Wallabies this year.Credit: Getty

Schmidt told this masthead he would decide in December after speaking with his family. Schmidt’s son, Luke, has special needs and coaching an international team – even one as close as Australia – requires the 59-year-old to spend a lot of time away from home.

“It is just trying to be as stable as possible,” Schmidt said. “I think since I started [coaching in July], I have had six, eight and ten days in New Zealand in three different spells. So it is just probably getting that........

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