Michael Cheika reveals the team he simply ‘can’t coach’ as Australian jobs are ‘out of the question’
Leicester Tigers head coach Michael Cheika ahead of the Gallagher Premiership match at the Mattioli Woods Welford Road Stadium, Leicester.
As Michael Cheika enters the final few weeks of his time at Leicester Tigers, he has revealed the job he simply cannot take upon his return to Australia.
The former Wallabies boss has been an instant success in the Premiership, with the Tigers now gearing up for a semi-final against Sale Sharks on Saturday after finishing eighth last season.
Cheika‘s success at Leicester has put him back in the frame for top jobs around the world, but surprisingly not back in his homeland, with the polarising Aussie admitting that he is unlikely to land another head coaching role at an Australian Super Rugby Pacific club.
Wallabies’ interest was ‘never serious’
When Joe Schmidt confirmed that he would be leaving his role as head coach of the Wallabies, rumours swirled that Cheika was back in the frame to reprise the role particularly after he had a meeting with Rugby Australia CEO Phil Waugh.
Speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald, the 58-year-old said that he believes that the meeting about the Wallabies job was “never a serious thing”, and probably done out of respect for the third party who lined it up.
“It got put in a very public place, and it got out pretty publicly. As soon as that happened, I thought, oh, ok, this isn’t too fair dinkum,” he said.
Reds head coach Les Kiss has since been unveiled as Schmidt’s successor, a decision that Cheika is “super pumped” for with him and Kiss being good friends.
With Kiss departing his role at Queensland at the end of the 2026 season, there is a possibility that the club could turn to Cheika, but he emphatically states that he is not interested.
“I can’t coach Queensland”
This is because of his previous role as Waratahs head coach, with whom he won the 2014 Super Rugby season.
“I can’t coach Queensland,” Cheika stated.
“No, seriously, I couldn’t. It would be like me going to coach Munster against Leinster.
“I understand it’s a professional game and all that business. I get it. And I respect the guys at Queensland, I like (QRU chief executive) Dave Hanham a lot. He’s a top fellow and they’re good guys, and a good team. A great team, right?
“But there are just some rivalries … like, why would you disrespect the people from Waratahs that were on that journey back then (in 2013-2015)?
“I couldn’t. I don’t think it’s right. I just don’t think it would be the right thing to do.
“But that’s me. I’m like that.”
The experienced head coach still feels as though if he were to coach in Australia again, it would have to be in rugby league – where he believes that he is an outlier option – with doors Down Under shut in the 15-aside game.
“Obviously rugby’s out of the question for me in Australia because there have been a few positions come up and I haven’t had … they’re not interested and that’s fine, I understand that,” he added.
“So if I want to stay in Australia, that (rugby league) is pretty much my option. If not, I would have to go back overseas at some stage if I want to keep coaching (in rugby).”
