Michael Cheika: Three-year deal
Related links
Teams
Also see
Former Leinster coach Michael Cheika has been appointed as the new coach of the struggling Waratahs after they finished the Super Rugby season in 11th position.
The 45-year-old returns to his native Australia following Michael Foley's decision to move to the Western Force - a job Cheika turned down.
Cheika, who led Leinster to their first Heineken Cup triumph in 2009 and had a stint in charge of Stade Francais, played for New South Wales in the late 1990s.
"The opportunity to coach the Super Rugby team of my home state and the responsibility to make all our supporters and all people from NSW proud of their team is one that motivates me immensely," said Cheika.
"I am really looking forward to being part of this new era in NSW rugby and will bring all the passion and professionalism I have to make this team one everyone will be proud of.
"My immediate goal is to establish our identity loud and clear, inside and outside of the team; who we are, how we are going to play the game and what we are prepared to do to earn the respect of our team-mates, our supporters and our competitors, as individuals and as a team.
"By achieving this we will earn the right to think about getting some good results."
Cheika ruled out a return of former Wallabies skipper Rocky Elsom.
The pair worked together at Leinster but the latter has been dogged by injury problems and was released by the Waratahs at the end of the season.
"I met with Rocky the other day in Europe. I had dinner with him and his family," Cheika told reporters.
"I think his priority is getting himself fit and healthy so he can get back to the performance levels that he had a few years back."
Comments
Be the first to comment on this story..