By BBC (Sports) | Created at 2025-01-30 09:50:26 | Updated at 2025-02-01 04:03:04
1 day ago
Michael Cheika will step down as Leicester Tigers head coach when his contract expires at the end of the season.
The 57-year-old took the job last summer on a one-year deal after being appointed just a week after fellow Australian Dan McKellar left by mutual consent.
Tigers, who are fourth in the Premiership table and have reached the last 16 of the European Champions Cup, are now looking for their ninth new head coach in less than nine years.
It was reported last week that Tigers are understood to have already spoken to celebrated former Leicester prop and ex-Munster head coach Graham Rowntree as a potential replacement.
Confirmation that former Australia and Argentina head coach Cheika will not stay at Welford Road comes a week after he said Tigers' heavy 80-12 defeat by Toulouse in the Champions Cup had pushed back talks about his future.
At the time, he spoke about how a decade away from the week-to-week demands of club rugby, as well as the speed of the appointment, were among the reasons why he committed to only a year.
Tigers chief executive Andrea Pinchen has said Cheika's departure comes a blow, but not as a surprise.
"While disappointed, given the positive influence Michael has had since joining us in the summer, we were always aware of this being a one-year deal and we have been transparent with players, staff, and supporters on that point," Pinchen told the club website, external.
"As we have said throughout Michael's tenure, we would have liked to have extended his time in the head coach role but understand why that can't happen."
