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Club legend in talks to replace Michael Cheika at Leicester Tigers
By Jon Newcombe
With Michael Cheika looking increasingly likely to leave Leicester Tigers when his one-year deal expires at the end of the season, the club are taking steps to line up a successor.
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Word has reached RugbyPass that Tigers legend Graham Rowntree has been interviewed for the job having been let go by Munster in October.
Rowntree was named Munster head coach in 2022 after joining the Irish province three years earlier as forwards coach.
The former England prop led the Irish province to the United Rugby Championship title – their first trophy in 12 years – in the first of his two seasons in charge.
Should the Tigers appoint Rowntree, it would be a popular move amongst supporters and, hopefully, give the club some much-needed stability after years of coaching upheaval.
Famously a member of the front-row ABC Club, Rowntree made 398 appearances for Leicester in 17 years from 1990. He played in three Heineken Cup finals, and four Pilkington Cup finals and was a member of five championship-winning squads
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Leicester are keen on keeping Cheika but seem resigned to losing him with the Australian keen to be reunited with his family.
Cheika has helped to turn things around at Welford Road following the failed reign of Dan McKellar. The Tigers are currently sitting fourth in the Gallagher Premiership table with six wins, a draw and three defeats from their opening 10 matches.
McKellar left the Tigers after only one season and if Cheika goes after a similarly short spell, the club face another rebuilding task. But at least with Rowntree, they have someone who already knows the club inside and out and would likely be in the job for the long run, as well as having a very good CV.
Rowntree cut his coaching teeth as an assistant at Leicester and Harlequins before enjoying a seven-year stint with England, for whom he played 54 times.
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The 53-year-old former British and Irish Lions international also gained Test level experience at Rugby World Cup 2019 with Georgia before moving to Ireland.