Champion-winning head coach Michael Cheika has returned to the NSW Waratahs, signing on with his former club for the 2027 season.
The 59-year-old helped the Waratahs claim their lone Super Rugby title, delivering success in NSW in 2014.
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He returns to Rugby Union after a stint as assistant coach for NRL team Sydney Roosters as well as head coach of Lebanon.
“The NSW Waratahs have always occupied a special place for me - it’s my home state and I feel ready to return as their 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," Cheika said in a statement.
“Being involved in the NSW squad that lifted the Super Rugby trophy in 2014 is something I will never forget, especially the passion and energy of our supporters. This is a new time, a different time and I am looking forward to being able to enjoy those same kinds of feelings and more with players, their families and all the fans in this new adventure.
“I really would like to share all the experiences I have been lucky enough to gain since I was last here and make this a great place to play footy.
“Before all of that I want to give my all to my rugby league club, the Sydney Roosters, to help achieve our goal for this season, to pay them back for the trust and belief they have always shown in me.”
Cheika’s appointment is his first back in Australian Rugby since taking charge of the Wallabies between 2014-2019.
During his tenure, he helped Australia claim its first Rugby Championship title in 2015, reaching the Rugby World Cup Final in England later that year, named World Rugby Coach of the Year.
In total, Cheika coached 68 games for the Wallabies and stepped down after the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
Since then, he has coached Argentina, initially joining as an assistant in 2020-21, eventually taking over full-time in 2022.
He guided Los Pumas to their first win over New Zealand in New Zealand, marking back-to-back victories over the All Blacks.
The success continued as Los Pumas made the semi-finals of the 2023 Rugby World Cup, shifting to English club Leicester, who he’d take to the Premiership Final in 2025.
Cheika’s previous experience includes winning the Heineken Cup with Leinster in 2009 and finishing runner-up in the European Challenge Cup in 2011 with Stade Francais.A
“Michael is a proven leader with an exceptional record across many years building and preparing teams to compete on rugby’s biggest stages," Waratahs Director of Performance B-J Maher said.
“His coaching achievements speak for themselves but equally important is his sincere passion for our club and what it represents.
“We believe Michael is the right person to now lead the next chapter for the Waratahs and we are delighted to welcome him home.”
