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Dan McKellar addresses speculation that he could succeed Eddie Jones
Former Wallabies assistant Dan McKellar has responded to speculation that he could be the next coach of Australia after the resignation of Eddie Jones.
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That 47-year-old ex-Brumbies boss had been part of the previous regime under Dave Rennie when Jones was appointed last January and the following month he was announced as the new Leicester Tigers head coach on a three-year deal, starting with the 2023/24 season.
Now, just three matches into his first Gallagher Premiership campaign, McKellar has been linked with a return to Australia after it was confirmed last weekend that Jones was quitting and wouldn’t be continuing in the role he was contracted for through to the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
There have since been headlines that McKellar should be the coach to fill the sudden vacancy, with Stephen Larkham, Michael Cheika and Andy Friend also mentioned as other possible contenders.
McKellar, though, has dismissed the media speculation, insisting he is happy with his new life in England and that his sole focus is trying to win away at Saracens on Saturday.
Speaking with Adam Whitty on the latest Leicester Tigers Rugby Show podcast on BBC Radio Leicester, the Australian explained: “One thing I can’t control is media speculation and that’s what it is, it’s media speculation.
“Newspapers and websites put stories in place for people to read and that’s completely out of my control. I have moved my family here, we’re very happy here. Girls are at school, loving life in the Midlands and that is all I am focusing on.”
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It was last season when Leicester saw their management ticket broken up mid-season with Steve Borthwick and Kevin Sinfield joining England, a move that was also made at the end of the season by Richard Wigglesworth and Aled Walters.
That recent upheaval has left some Leicester fans worried that they could again soon be looking for another head coach, but McKellar insisted: “100 per cent I’m staying.
“As I said, there are things I can control and certainly media speculation about who replaces Eddie Jones as Wallabies coach is not in my control. I’ll focus on beating Saracens at Saracens on Saturday.”
"100% I'm staying" ??
Dan McKellar has ruled himself out of the Australia head coach role. Media speculation had linked him to the role after Eddie Jones's resignation.
Watch his exchange with BBC Radio Leicester here: ? pic.twitter.com/NjQaRof5ek
— BBC Sport Leicester (@BBCRLSport) November 2, 2023
Just about anybody could succeed EJ at this point…
You don’t see all of us holding press conferences about it.
Doesn't rule it out…