RugbyRebels

Michael Cheika will vacate his role as Leicester’s head coach at the end of the current season to return home to Australia.

In a blow to the Tigers and the Premiership as a whole, Cheika, one of the most blockbuster coaching arrivals in the history of the English domestic game, has decided against taking the option of a second year at Mattioli Woods Welford Road in order to return to his family in his homeland.

Telegraph Sport understands that Cheika informed the club of his decision with a heavy heart this week, with the 57-year-old professionally keen to continue with Leicester.

The Tigers had been actively trying to keep Cheika’s services for at least one more season, with the Australian having impressed both the playing squad and the executive team, but the head coach has decided that he could no longer spend so much time away from his Sydney-based family, despite having settled in at Welford Road.

The 11-time Premiership winners have drawn up a shortlist to succeed Cheika with three names emerging as contenders: club legend Graham Rowntree, Glasgow’s Franco Smith and former England and South Africa assistant coach Felix Jones. Telegraph Sport understands, however, that Jones is reluctant to step away from the international game while Richard Wigglesworth, England’s senior assistant coach and a former Premiership winner with Leicester, was previously in the frame.

Cheika arrived in the East Midlands at short notice ahead of this season following the abrupt sacking of Dan McKellar after a campaign in which the Tigers failed to qualify for the Premiership play-offs. At the time, Cheika’s family had just moved from Paris to Sydney en masse and the Australian was to follow suit until Leicester came calling with a coaching SOS.

Under the Australian, who has previously coached the Wallabies and Argentina at international level, the Tigers’ fortunes – not to mention performances – have improved. Leicester are in prime position for a Premiership top-four spot and have qualified for the Champions Cup knockouts, a competition in which Cheika tasted success in 2009, lifting the trophy with Leinster. Coincidentally, Leicester take on Smith’s Glasgow in the last-16 this season.

Regardless, the Tigers must once again find and appoint a new head coach, the eighth in eight seasons, although it is understood that contingency planning in the case of Cheika’s departure had been under way for some time and that the next appointment, whichever candidate it may be, will be long-term.

Telegraph Sport approached Leicester for comment.

p/d wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 10:23 am Blockbuster arrival. Pointless departure

FKAS wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 10:30 am

p/d wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 10:23 am Blockbuster arrival. Pointless departure

He's done a good job and is enjoying his work life but is leaving because his family are in Australia and don't want to move over here and he doesn't want to keep working away from them. Why is that a pointless departure?

p/d wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 12:10 pm

FKAS wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 10:30 am

p/d wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 10:23 am Blockbuster arrival. Pointless departure

He's done a good job and is enjoying his work life but is leaving because his family are in Australia and don't want to move over here and he doesn't want to keep working away from them. Why is that a pointless departure?

Bullseye. Ya got me!!!
Makes you part of the 1% Club

FKAS wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 12:19 pm

p/d wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 12:10 pm

FKAS wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 10:30 am

He's done a good job and is enjoying his work life but is leaving because his family are in Australia and don't want to move over here and he doesn't want to keep working away from them. Why is that a pointless departure?

Bullseye. Ya got me!!!
Makes you part of the 1% Club

Fair I drew a blankety blank on the first one.

FKAS wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 12:19 pm

p/d wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 12:10 pm

FKAS wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 10:30 am

He's done a good job and is enjoying his work life but is leaving because his family are in Australia and don't want to move over here and he doesn't want to keep working away from them. Why is that a pointless departure?

Bullseye. Ya got me!!!
Makes you part of the 1% Club

Fair I drew a blankety blank on the first one.

p/d wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 12:22 pm

FKAS wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 12:19 pm

p/d wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 12:10 pm

Bullseye. Ya got me!!!
Makes you part of the 1% Club

Fair I drew a blankety blank on the first one.

I did give you bit of a runaround

Banquo wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 12:23 pm

FKAS wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 12:19 pm

p/d wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 12:10 pm

Bullseye. Ya got me!!!
Makes you part of the 1% Club

Fair I drew a blankety blank on the first one.

Didn't have to be a mastermind to work it out tho

Banquo wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 12:23 pm

FKAS wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 12:19 pm

p/d wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 12:10 pm

Bullseye. Ya got me!!!
Makes you part of the 1% Club

Fair I drew a blankety blank on the first one.

Didn't have to be a mastermind to work it out tho

FKAS wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 12:31 pm

Banquo wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 12:23 pm

FKAS wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 12:19 pm

Fair I drew a blankety blank on the first one.

Didn't have to be a mastermind to work it out tho

I'm ill, then the tipping point was being up with daughter in the night who was also a bit ill. Even slower than usual today.

FKAS wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 12:31 pm

Banquo wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 12:23 pm

FKAS wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 12:19 pm

Fair I drew a blankety blank on the first one.

Didn't have to be a mastermind to work it out tho

I'm ill, then the tipping point was being up with daughter in the night who was also a bit ill. Even slower than usual today.

p/d wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 12:42 pm

FKAS wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 12:31 pm

Banquo wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 12:23 pm

Didn't have to be a mastermind to work it out tho

I'm ill, then the tipping point was being up with daughter in the night who was also a bit ill. Even slower than usual today.

What’s wrong? Go on, give us a clue

FKAS wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 12:31 pm

Banquo wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 12:23 pm

FKAS wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 12:19 pm

Fair I drew a blankety blank on the first one.

Didn't have to be a mastermind to work it out tho

I'm ill, then the tipping point was being up with daughter in the night who was also a bit ill. Even slower than usual today.

pjm1 wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 1:26 pm

FKAS wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 12:31 pm

Banquo wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 12:23 pm

Didn't have to be a mastermind to work it out tho

I'm ill, then the tipping point was being up with daughter in the night who was also a bit ill. Even slower than usual today.

Sounds like a right generation game.

Banquo wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 4:27 pm

pjm1 wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 1:26 pm

FKAS wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 12:31 pm

I'm ill, then the tipping point was being up with daughter in the night who was also a bit ill. Even slower than usual today.

Sounds like a right generation game.

play your cards right and you'll get some likes for this

p/d wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 5:45 pm

Banquo wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 4:27 pm

pjm1 wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 1:26 pm

Sounds like a right generation game.

play your cards right and you'll get some likes for this

Just a minute!!! Where are my likes

Banquo wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 10:31 pm

p/d wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 5:45 pm

Banquo wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 4:27 pm

play your cards right and you'll get some likes for this

Just a minute!!! Where are my likes

Mornington Crescent

p/d wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 10:36 pm

Banquo wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 10:31 pm

p/d wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 5:45 pm

Just a minute!!! Where are my likes

Mornington Crescent

I’m sorry. I haven’t a clue what that is

Banquo wrote: ↑Fri Jan 31, 2025 4:30 pm Lancaster I guess ?

Banquo wrote: ↑Fri Jan 31, 2025 4:30 pm Lancaster I guess ?