Departing Australian head coach Michael Cheika is set to take up a role at French Top 14 outfit Montpellier according to reports.
According to French newspaper Midi Olympique Montpellier have held talks with Cheika as they look to secure him as the club’s director of rugby.
If the move was to go ahead Cheika would take over from Vern Cotter when his current contract runs out next June.
The report claims that the club’s president Mohed Altrad would love to bring in Cheika as he believes that he will be a factor in the transfer market as they look to attract players.
“The Herault business leader would then make a big move in the transfer market, as the aura of the Australo-Lebanese is important on the international scene,” the report stated.
A move to France would be a perfect fit for Cheika in the eyes of most with the Aussie having spent time in the country during his playing career as well as coaching French outfit Stade Francais previously.
As well as that he is fluent in French, making communication easy and having raised his family to speak both English and French it seems a natural fit for all involved.
Cheika announced he would step down from his role with the Wallabies following their 40-16 loss to England in the quarter-finals of the Rugby World Cup on Saturday. Having brought the team all the way to the final of the competition in 2015, Cheika stuck to his word that if they failed to go a step further this time around he would leave after five years at the helm.
Although many criticized him during his time with the Wallabies his CV speaks for itself as he still remains the only coach to have won the Champions Cup and Super Rugby titles, the northern hemisphere and southern hemisphere’s top competitions respectively. Meaning Montpellier would be bringing in an experienced coach with a winning mentally to help head coach Xavier Garbajosa reach the club’s goals.
