The overwhelming favorite to take over as Wales’ next coach when his contract with the Leicester Tigers expires at the end of the current campaign is Michael Cheika
The Welsh Rugby Union is searching for a new manager after losing to Italy for the fourteenth time in a row earlier this month, terminating Warren Gatland’s two-year tenure.
Matt Sherratt, the interim manager, has ruled out accepting the position permanently and will return to his position in Cardiff after leading the team to their 16th consecutive loss to Ireland over the weekend.
After leading the Wallabies for five years and leading Argentina to a World Cup semifinal in 2023, Cheika, 57, was named World Rugby Coach of the Year in 2015. He has a strong record in international rugby.
He said last month that when his one-year contract with the Welford Road team expires at the end of June, he will be departing the Tigers, who are now fourth in the Premiership and vying for a play-off spot.
Cheika used the Tigers’ Premiership Cup exit to travel back to Australia. He was seen having lunch with Rugby Australia manager Phil Waugh at a restaurant in Sydney, which raised rumors that he might go back to work.
However, it has since been downplayed, with former London Irish manager Les Kiss, who is currently leading the Queensland Reds, being viewed as the overwhelming favorite when Joe Schmidt steps down at the Rugby Championship’s conclusion in October.
When it was revealed that Gatland was leaving, Cheika was instantly set as the 3-1 favorite by Welsh bookmakers, with opponents Simon Easterby and Franco Smith at 5-1.
Despite having a £500,000 compensation clause in his Glasgow Warriors contract that expires at the conclusion of the following season, Smith has subsequently stated that he wants to coach internationally once more.
Furthermore, rumors that surfaced from Australia over the weekend indicate that Cheika is eager to take on the challenge of rebuilding Wales.
