Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Club legend in talks to replace Michael Cheika at Leicester Tigers

Leicester boss Michael Cheika (Photo by Patrick Khachfe/Getty Images)

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.

ADVERTISEMENT

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.

Graham Rowntree Munster
Graham Rowntree has been ousted as the Munster coach (Photo by Shaun Roy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

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

ADVERTISEMENT

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.

ADVERTISEMENT

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.

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

5 Comments
G
GS 26 days ago

Tigers got rid of our best coach COCKERS he new the club and our game, but yet again the board got it wrong. The they give Andrea control and what a nightmare that as been she even got rid of Rock bottom after them entertaining us for 21 years. I have supported Tigers for 53 years and never seen it as bad, at least having Graham Rowntree back would give us some stability which we definitely need.

M
Mark 26 days ago

The Tigers board are the absolute masters of shortermism, having let England poach Borthwick and his entire coaching staff, they then appointed cheika on a 1 season deal....unbelievable.

Talk about lions led by donkeys.

The main changes need to be made at boardroom level.

J
JW 26 days ago

it might not be anything to do with the Tigers board. Chieka might have wanted to keep himself available for Australia again if Joe decided to leave after next season.

A
AA 26 days ago

Better still.

What about a swap and have Borthwick back .

PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!

Load More Comments

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

TRENDING
TRENDING Finn Russell excluded, struggling England man in: Ex-Bok boss' Lions 10s Russell excluded, struggling England man in: Ex-Bok boss' Lions 10s
Search