Former Wallabies head coach Michael Cheika has decided to take a role with Rugby League side the Sydney Roosters on a short-term basis.
The 52-year-old has been out of work since leaving the Wallabies set-up following their quarter-final exit at the recent Rugby World Cup. However, it has now been confirmed by the Daily Telegraph that he will make the cross-code switch to the Roosters.
Cheika will come in as a coaching advisor and links up with long-time friend Trent Robinson, who is currently the Roosters head coach and he is delighted to have Cheika on board.
“He is helping push myself and the assistant coaches to improve and challenging our ideas and helping push us again in 2020,” he said.
Cheika himself has admitted he is enjoying his time with the squad as they look to defend their back-to-back NRL championship titles.
“I’ve loved it. I was really honoured that they thought I could contribute. I want to make sure the stuff I’m doing is contributing the way Trent wants me to,” he said.
There were reports ever since the conclusion of the World Cup linking Cheika with a role at French Top 14 side Montpellier, but that position was filled this week and this new role sees him being able to remain in Sydney for a while longer and only work with the Roosters one day a week.
Cheika will bring a huge amount of experience to the treble chasing champions having worked with top teams such as Stade Francais, the Waratahs and Leinster as well as his time with the Wallabies.
He will be hoping that this experience will help boost his CV for his next role in rugby whether that be league or union in the long-run.
