One of rugby’s most decorated international coaches is making a nostalgic return to where he claimed one of his greatest club successes. Michael Cheika, the 59-year-old rugby strategist who led the New South Wales Waratahs to their only Super Rugby championship back in 2014, has been confirmed as the franchise’s new head coach, set to take up the role this November.
Before stepping into his new post with the Sydney-based side, Cheika will complete his current commitment leading Lebanon at the Rugby League World Cup, wrapping up a multi-sport coaching stint that has kept him busy across global rugby circuits in recent years.
Cheika’s coaching career is marked by a string of high-profile achievements that extend far beyond his 2014 Super Rugby win. After leaving the Waratahs following his title run, he took the helm of Australia’s national men’s side, the Wallabies, and steered the team all the way to the 2015 Rugby World Cup final in England. He departed the Wallabies post after a quarterfinal exit at the 2019 World Cup, but quickly bounced back to top international coaching, leading Argentina’s Los Pumas to an unexpected semifinal finish at the 2023 Rugby World Cup hosted in France.
His success is not limited to southern hemisphere rugby, either. Early in his club coaching career, Cheika led Irish side Leinster to lift the European Cup title in 2009, cementing his reputation as a coach who can deliver silverware at the highest club level.
In a statement following his appointment, Cheika emphasized the emotional weight of his return to the Waratahs. “The Waratahs have always occupied a special place for me — it’s my home state and I feel ready to return as head coach ahead of an important year for the Waratahs and also for Australian rugby in the lead up to the home Rugby World Cup,” he said.
BJ Mather, the Waratahs’ high performance manager, highlighted Cheika’s proven track record of winning as a core reason for the franchise’s decision to bring him back. While the organization is not focused on reliving past glory, Mather noted that Cheika remains the last Waratahs head coach to claim a Super Rugby title, bringing both experience and a winning culture that the side has lacked in recent seasons.
The Waratahs have struggled to compete at the top level of Super Rugby in recent years, failing to qualify for the competition playoffs over the past three consecutive seasons under previous head coaches Dan McKellar and Darren Coleman. With the 2027 Rugby World Cup set to be hosted in Australia, the franchise’s leadership is betting on Cheika’s leadership experience and winning pedigree to rebuild the side and return it to championship contention, just as he did 12 years ago.