World Cup contenders eye up Dave Rennie

Glasgow Warriors head coach Dave Rennie has emerged as a leading contender to replace Michael Cheika for the Wallabies job after this year’s World Cup.

According to a report from Stuff, Rennie has been identified as a secondary option behind England head coach Eddie Jones and Wales head coach Warren Gatland as coaches at the top of Rugby Australia’s “dream list”.

New Australian director of rugby Scott Johnson is believed to be an admirer of Rennie’s coaching abilities, with the former Chiefs coach – who claimed back-to-back Super Rugby titles in his debut two seasons with the franchise in 2012 and 2013 – being a composed, intelligent coach.

Rennie, a former Wellington and Cook Islands representative, has also had spells at provincial level with Wellington and Manawatu, while also winning three consecutive world titles with the New Zealand U20 side from 2008 to 2010.

Since leaving the Chiefs in 2017, Rennie has been at the helm of Glasgow, working in Scotland during the same time that Johnson has been working as the country’s director of rugby.

However, the 55-year-old is locked in with the Warriors until the middle of 2020 after agreeing to a one-year extension on his contract in January, making things difficult for RA if they are looking to secure his signature.

“I’m going to be here for at least another year and a half – possibly longer,” Rennie told BBC Sport at the time of his contract extension.

“It’s been really good. We’re happy, and my wife is happy, that’s the key.

“If I’m not here who is going to be running the show and contracting? It gives players clarity over who is going to be here.”

The Short Ball – The World Rugby Nations Championship Debacle: