Leicester Tigers have appointed former Australia, Argentina and Leinster head coach Michael Cheika as their new boss following the exit of Dan McKellar.
McKellar departed Welford Road by mutual consent at the weekend and will be replaced by fellow Australian Cheika, who left his role at Argentina after leading the Pumas to fourth place at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.
Cheika coached Leinster to the Heineken Cup title in 2009 with the Irish side beating Leicester in the final, while he also steered the Waratahs to Super Rugby glory in 2014.
The 57-year-old has coached at three World Cups, with his success with Argentina last year following taking Australia to the 2015 final and quarter-finals in 2019.
Cheika’s fellow Australian Dan McKellar left his role as Leicester by mutual consent
Cheika, who will take over at Leicester immediately, said: “Honestly, I wasn’t looking at the Premiership and didn’t have the desire to coach in it until Leicester Tigers came to me. But, the opportunity to coach at Tigers and lead this group of players turned my head.
“I want this to be my best coaching yet. I want the preparation and the way we lead the team to be at my best level. If I can bring my best level, other people will bring their best level and good things will start to happen around us.
“Everybody can see that it is a top-quality roster the club has. I am not going to lie and say I know every single one of them down to their bones but that’s what I will do over the next few months, to learn how to get the best out of them.
“But the roster is only paper. It’s now about how the team gels, how to put these really good players and characters together and get them playing in a way that they love it and a way they love going out there, together, and representing Leicester Tigers.”
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