Fisher Joins Wallabies Coaching Staff
Former England player Johnny Fisher has been appointed assistant coach of the Wallabies by head coach Les Kiss.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Tennis
Johnny Fisher, 38, has been appointed assistant coach of the Australian rugby union team, the Wallabies, by head coach Les Kiss. The Englishman was one of Kiss's first appointments to his coaching staff.
Why it matters
Fisher's appointment brings an England-born coach into the Wallabies set-up ahead of a Test against England at Twickenham. Kiss and Fisher share a background from Kiss's time at London Irish.
Fisher has been formally appointed as assistant coach, with the source not detailing the length of his contract or specific duties beyond the role itself.
The players
Les Kiss
Les Kiss is the head coach of the Wallabies and recruited Johnny Fisher to join the Reds in Queensland.
Johnny Fisher
Johnny Fisher is a former England player who was appointed Wallabies assistant coach after a playing career ended by injury.
The details
Fisher played for England at U20, Sevens and Saxons levels, and appeared for England against the Barbarians in 2015 before missing selection for the 2015 World Cup. His playing career ended through injury, after which he coached several players now in the England squad at London Irish, where he formed a bond with Kiss.
Timeline
2008: Fisher faced Pocock and Cooper at the U20 World Championship in Wales, a match Australia won 18-13.
2015: Fisher played for England against the Barbarians.
9 November 2026: The Wallabies play England at Twickenham.
Season Trajectory
The appointment reflects Kiss building his Wallabies staff around people he has worked with before, continuing a pattern from his London Irish period. It positions the Wallabies' coaching group ahead of a November Test against England.
Fisher's appointment signals the Wallabies' staffing direction under Kiss ahead of the England Test. Fans following the squad can track the coaching group as it prepares for the November fixture.
The takeaway
Appointing coaches with established working relationships can give a new head coach a stable staff from the outset. Watching how a staff is built often reveals a coach's priorities before results do.
What happens next
The Wallabies play England at Twickenham on 9 November 2026.
Further reading
For more on Australian sport, see Tennis coverage.
