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Cheika addresses potential clash of dual code coaching roles

(Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)

Former Wallabies coach Michael Cheika is determined not to lose focus as a potential clash looms between his two national coaching roles across both codes of rugby.

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Cheika was appointed as head coach of Lebanon for the 2021 Rugby League World Cup and agreed to honour his commitment following its 12-month delay despite in the meantime being promoted to a similar role with Argentina.

If the Cedars get through their group, they would most likely play Australia in the first quarter-final at Huddersfield on Friday, November 6, two days before the Pumas take on Eddie Jones’ England at Twickenham in the autumn internationals.

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“At this stage, all those things are prioritised by games, so whichever game is first goes first,” Cheika said at the World Cup launch in Manchester.

“I’ll be honest, I haven’t even looked at dates because one thing I’ve learned about World Cups is that you should not look forward, you should only look right in front of you.

“If you start thinking about what’s down the road, you’ll get caught out.”

Cheika, who guided the Wallabies to the 2015 Rugby Union World Cup final but quit after a disappointing campaign in 2019, will have the assistance of former London Broncos coach Tony Rea in the run-up to Sunday’s opening game against New Zealand in Warrington.

Former Warrington centre Matt King is Cheika’s right-hand man while former Sydney Roosters hooker Robbie Farah, who captained Lebanon in the 2017 World Cup, is also on the backroom staff.

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Another former Sydney Roosters favourite, Jake Friend, is also on board and Cheika says Rea will link up with the squad this week.

“We’ve a really good base of knowledge from some coaches that have been involved at the top end of the game,” said Cheika, who plans to field his strongest team against the Kiwis.

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J
JW 1 hour ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Where? I remember saying "unders"? The LNR was formed by the FFR, if I said that in a way that meant the 'pro' side of the game didn't have an equal representation/say as the 'amateur' side (FFR remit) that was not my intent.


But also, as it is the governing body, it also has more responsibility. As long as WR looks at FFR as the running body for rugby in France, that 'power' will remain. If the LNR refuses to govern their clubs use of players to enable a request by FFR (from WR) to ensure it's players are able to compete in International rugby takes place they will simply remove their participation. If the players complain to the France's body, either of their health and safety concerns (through playing too many 'minutes' etc) or that they are not allowed to be part in matches of national interest, my understanding is action can be taken against the LNR like it could be any other body/business. I see where you're coming from now re EPCR and the shake up they gave it, yes, that wasn't meant to be a separate statement to say that FFR can threaten them with EPCR expulsion by itself, simply that it would be a strong repercussion for those teams to be removed (no one would want them after the above).


You keep bringing up these other things I cannot understand why. Again, do you think if the LNR were not acting responsibly they would be able to get away with whatever they want (the attitude of these posters saying "they pay the players")? You may deem what theyre doing currently as being irresponsible but most do not. Countries like New Zealand have not even complained about it because they've never had it different, never got things like windfall TV contracts from France, so they can't complain because theyre not missing out on anything. Sure, if the French kept doing things like withholding million dollar game payments, or causing millions of dollars of devaluation in rights, they these things I'm outlining would be taking place. That's not the case currently however, no one here really cares what the French do. It's upto them to sort themselves out if they're not happy. Now, that said, if they did make it obvious to World Rugby that they were never going to send the French side away (like they possibly did stating their intent to exclude 20 targeted players) in July, well then they would simply be given XV fixtures against tier 2 sides during that window and the FFR would need to do things like the 50/50 revenue split to get big teams visiting in Nov.

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