Leicester Tigers: Wallabies maul guru linked with Premiership club’s top job – report
Leicester Tigers are in the market for a new head coach following the departure of Steve Borthwick and the upcoming release of interim head coach Richard Wigglesworth.
Rumours are circulating on who will take the reins at one of the most iconic Premiership clubs next season.
Reports from Australia suggest that Eddie Jones’ assistant Dan McKellar is on their radar.
Australians to takeover Tigers?
According to a report by the Roar, McKellar has been shortlisted for the head coaching position at Leicester Tigers alongside fellow countryman Michael Cheika.
Cheika is Argentina’s head coach and will take the Pumas through the 2023 Rugby World Cup, meaning he would have to juggle both jobs if the Tigers don’t employ another interim coach for the build-up of the 2023/24 season.
Meanwhile, McKellar is under contract with Rugby Australia for 2023 and has reportedly been asked by new head coach Jones to remain in his role until after the World Cup.
The report adds that the former Brumbies boss sees himself as a head coach rather than an assistant and could move abroad with Jones signed up with the Wallabies until 2027.
With the Premiership club receiving a big payout to release Borthwick, they could have the funds to pay for McKellar’s release from Rugby Australia before the World Cup.
Relationship with Borthwick
England boss Borthwick is said to have reached out to McKellar ahead of the 2019 Rugby World Cup to pick his mind about the Brumbies’ successful rolling maul.
The relationship with Borthwick would serve McKellar well, as his opinion will carry weight with the Tigers’ board.
Meanwhile, the Wallabies assistant coach could find himself in the head coaching role with another Super Rugby franchise, as Brad Thorn’s future with the Reds beyond 2023 appears to be uncertain, the report added.
Another candidate reportedly on the Premiership club’s radar is current Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend, according to Sportsmail. At the same time, Vern Cotter has been linked with the job after he resigned from the Fiji job, as per the Telegraph.
Who is Dan McKellar?
A highly-rated coach in Australia, McKellar first joined the Brumbies in 2014, working as the side’s forwards coach after stints with the UC Vikings and Souths Rugby Club.
During his time in charge of the forwards, the Brumbies were renowned for their strength up front, especially with their rolling maul. In 2018, Stephen Larkham moved into his role with the Wallabies full-time, and McKellar was promoted to the head coaching role with the Brumbies.
He continued to be successful, with the side reaching the 2018 Super Rugby semi-finals, winning the 2020 Super Rugby AU title, and reaching the final of the same competition a year later.
In 2020, he was approached to join Australia’s coaching set-up as the side’s forwards coach but politely declined before accepting the same job a year later. He split his responsibilities at the time, working as the Brumbies’ head coach and the forward’s coach for the Wallabies in 2021 and 2022.
The return of Larkham to the Brumbies in 2022 paved the way for McKellar to go full-time with the Wallabies.