Michael Cheika

Michael Cheika

Place of birth	Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Occupation(s)	Rugby Union coach
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position	No. 8
Professional / senior clubs
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
	Randwick NSW Waratahs Castres Stade Français Rugby Livorno
National team(s)
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
	Australia U-21
Coaching career
Years	Club / team
1999–2000 2001–2005 2005–2010 2010–2012 2013–	Padova Randwick Leinster Stade Français NSW Waratahs
Rugby union career

Michael Cheika is a former Australian rugby union player and Heineken Cup winning coach. Having previously coached Padova, Randwick, Leinster and Stade Français he has been announced as the head coach of the New South Wales Waratahs for the 2013 Super Rugby season.^[1]

Playing career

Randwick

Cheika was a No. 8.^[2] He played more than 300 games for the Galloping Greens, winning seven Shute Shields during a period when Randwick dominated Sydney rugby.^[3] He captained Randwick between 1997 and 1999.^[4]

International

Cheika represented Australia at U-21 level.

Other Clubs

Cheika represented New South Wales, and played for Castres Olympique and Stade Français in the French league as well as Italian side Rugby Livorno alongside Randwick teammate David Knox.

Coaching career

Padova

Cheika had never coached before but when David Campese brought a coaching job to his attention in Italy he applied and was successful. Cheika and Knox coached Padova through a Heineken Cup campaign but did not yield any wins.^[5]

Randwick

Cheika returned to Sydney in 2001 when his father fell ill. With European coaching experience under his belt he secured the Randwick coaching ticket and guided his old club to a Shute Shield victory in 2004.^[6]

Leinster

Cheika replaced Declan Kidney as head coach at Leinster in May 2005. Mick Dawson, Leinster's chief executive described it as a calculated punt.^[7] Kidney had left in contentious circumstances having agreed a move to rivals Munster before the season's end and Leinster were said to be in disarray.^[8] Cheika brought assistant David Knox, his former teammate, with him to Ireland.

Cheika's first season culminated in a Heineken Cup semi–final against Munster, which Munster won on their way to lifting the trophy. Cheika's second season in charge was a difficult one as Leinster were knocked out of the Heineken Cup at the quarter-final Stage by London Wasps The 07/08 season saw more European disappointment when Leinster failed to get out of their qualifying pool, but Leinster did secure the Celtic League trophy with a bonus point win against Newport Gwent Dragons. It was Cheika's first trophy as Leinster coach and Leinster's first since 2001's Celtic League.^[9]

Leinster added Alan Gaffney in for the 2009 season as backs coach to add to Kurt McQuilkin as defence coach and forwards coach Jono Gibbes .^[10] Leinster lost their Magner's Celtic League crown to Munster in 2009 but European success was achieved in Leinster's first Heineken Cup final, which they won 19–16, becoming the club champions of Europe.^[11]

He left his post with Leinster Rugby at the end of the 2009–2010 season to become head coach for French Top 14 side Stade Français.

Stade Français

Cheika was Director of Rugby of the Paris-based club between 2010 and 2012. It has been reported that his time at Stade Français was less successful than at previous clubs with off-field trauma and mediocre on-field results making his life very difficult culminating in him being sacked.^[12]

New South Wales Waratahs

On 18 September 2012 Cheika was announced as the head coach of the New South Wales Waratahs for the 2013 Super Rugby season.^[13] It has been reported that his contract is for three years.^[14]

Private life

Cheika married in June 2008.^[15] He was known amongst the Leinster rugby fraternity as Mic Check 1–2, a humorous allusion to his name, Craig McLachlan's band and his eagerness that all facets of preparation were scrutinised and reviewed prior to matchday.^{[citation needed]}

References

External links

• Leinster Rugby