Michael Cheika named new Leicester Tigers head coach

Leicester Tigers have named former Australia and Argentina boss Michael Cheika as their new head coach.

The Australian takes over from compatriot Dan McKellar, who left the role last week after a solitary season in charge.

Cheika is returning to coaching after guiding the Pumas to a fourth-place finish at the World Cup last year.

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He arrives at Welford Road with an impressive CV in the northern hemisphere, having guided Leinster to a league and European title earlier in his career.

The appointment comes a day after the club confirmed that scrum coach Dan Palmer has also left the club. 

“Honestly, I wasn’t looking at the Premiership and didn’t have the desire to coach in it until Leicester Tigers came to me,” Cheika said after his appointment.

“But, the opportunity to coach at Tigers and lead this group of players turned my head.”

“I want this to be my best coaching yet. I want the preparation and the way we lead the team, to be at my best level. If I can bring my best level, other people will bring their best level and good things will start to happen around us.

“Everybody can see that it is a top-quality roster the club has. I am not going to lie and say I know every single one of them down to their bones but that’s what I will do over the next few months, to learn how to get the best out of them.

“But, the roster is only paper. It’s now about how the team gels, how to put these really good players and characters together and get them playing in a way that they love it and a way they love going out there, together, and representing Leicester Tigers.”

On the appointment of Cheika Leicester Tigers CEO Andrea Pinchen said: “We are very pleased to be able to appoint someone of Michael’s experience and history with success to the role of head coach.”

“He has, over more than two decades, achieved great success in winning trophies but also developing players, developing coaches and galvanising groups to be the best they can be.

“We want that, we need that and believe Michael is the right person to take this team, this club back to where we know we should be.

“I also accept that the past week is not what fans expected, and nor did we, but the decisions we have made are for the long-term benefit of Leicester Tigers and after lengthy, detailed and very honest conversations with Michael in recent days, we are on the same page about what is now necessary to see this club back on top.”