Michael Cheika leading race to be next Leicester Tigers king

Leicester Tigers are in advanced talks with former Australia coach Michael Cheika after they dramatically announced the sacking of head coach Dan McKellar.

Cheika has been looking for another job after leaving his job as Argentina’s head coach after they were beaten 26-23 in the bronze final by England earlier this season.

The Tigers initially overlooked the ex-Wallaby boss in favour of McKellar, who is now likely to be among the front runners to take over at the NSW Waratahs, a job that Cheika has also been linked with.

Cheika, who made millions selling jeans in the women’s fashion industry is expected to be installed before most of the Tigers squad who aren’t away on international duty report back for pre-season training on July 1.

The 57-year-old also coached Lebanon at the delayed 2022 Rugby League World Cup, even though it clashed with the Pumas touring for the autumn test series and has plenty of European club experience.

He started his coaching career in Italy with Petrarca Rugby, then took charge of Leinster, winning the Celtic League in 2008 and the Heineken Cup the following year before moving to Stade Francais.

The 2015 World Rugby Coach of the Year will need to win over the powerful Tigers dressing room, something many coaches who have taken charge of the club in the past have failed to do.

Cheika had recently discussed a cross-code switch to the NRL with the Parramatta Eels but was eliminated from the running for the job following the first round of interviews.

Four years ago, he was linked with a move to Gloucester and has been regularly linked with big-spending Top 14 outfit Montpellier and could tie up a deal to join the Tigers within the next 48-72 hours.