Michael Cheika ‘keen’ on Wales despite ‘secret’ Wallabies meeting as WRU hit significant stumbling block over Franco Smith
Leicester Tigers head coach Michael Cheika, who has been linked to the Wales position, and Glasgow Warriors boss Franco Smith.
Michael Cheika has set his sights on Wales after his links with the Wallabies was tempered, despite a ‘secret meeting’ with Rugby Australia recently.
Cheika led the Wallabies from 2014 to 2019, guiding them to the Rugby World Cup final in 2015, but he has been linked with a return.
The current Leicester Tigers boss, who will leave the English club at the end of the season, reportedly spoke with Rugby Australia chief executive Phil Waugh last week, fuelling rumours that he was in contention to succeed Joe Schmidt.
However, that speculation has cooled somewhat with Les Kiss the favourite to replace the outgoing Wallabies head coach.
Warren Gatland’s potential successor
According to RugbyPass, Cheika is “keen” on the Wales position, which will be vacated following the conclusion of the Six Nations when the tenure of interim head coach Matt Sherratt ends.
Cardiff head honcho Sherratt has stepped into the role on a short-term basis after Warren Gatland’s tenure ended due to a run of 14 successive defeats.
That increased to 15 when they succumbed to Ireland on Saturday, but their performance brought pride back into the Welsh jersey and the suggestion is that Cheika would relish the chance to rebuild the team.
Following Gatland’s departure, Simon Easterby and Franco Smith emerged as leading contenders to replace him, but it was reported by WalesOnline that the WRU also held “tentative talks” with the Australian.
They could well become more serious discussions, with obstacles blocking the appointment of either Easterby or Smith.
The former, who currently lives in Wales, is Ireland’s defence guru, but he is also doing a fine job as their interim head coach in the absence of Andy Farrell and may well be reluctant to leave.
Easterby was inevitably asked about the links ahead of the clash in Cardiff but he remained coy on the matter.
“Of course there’s been speculation but that’s all there is, speculation. I’m not in control of that. I love it here, I’m very fortunate with the people I get to work with here. For me, it’s a dream job,” he told reporters.
“It’s speculation and not something I can control. Right now this is my only focus, whatever happens in the future, in a year’s time I could lose my job and in sport it’s very fluid people.
“I’ve had no contact with the WRU, for me it’s all guns blazing towards Cardiff on Saturday and making sure me and the team prepare the team the right way. Whatever happens outside of that is outside my control.”
Smith stumbling block
As for Smith, he has been open in his desire to return to international rugby after being head coach of Italy between 2019 and 2021, but there could be a financial roadblock preventing him from joining Wales.
It is understood that the highly rated South African has a clause in his Glasgow Warriors contract which requires £500,000 compensation in order for him to leave.
That therefore means Cheika could well come firmly into the frame if the Australian’s apparent interest is reciprocated by the WRU.
