Michael Cheika now favourite to take on Wales job

Michael Cheika has emerged as the clear favourite to become the next Wales coach when his contract with Leicester Tigers runs out at the end of the season.

The Welsh Rugby Union are looking for a new boss after ending Warren Gatland’s two-year reign earlier this month, following a 14th successive defeat against Italy.

Caretaker boss Matt Sherratt, who oversaw a 16th defeat on the spin against Ireland at the weekend, has ruled himself out of taking the job on a permanent basis and will return to his post at Cardiff.

Cheika on Argentina and World Cup

Cheika on Argentina and World Cup

Cheika, 57, who was World Rugby Coach of the Year in 2015, has a proven track record in international rugby, spending five years in charge of the Wallabies and then taking Argentina to a World Cup semi-final in 2023.

He announced last month that he will be leaving the Tigers, who are fourth in the Premiership and hunting a play-off place, when his one-year deal with the Welford Road outfit runs out at the end of June.

Cheika took advantage of the Tigers’ Premiership Cup exit to return to Australia and was spotted having lunch with Rugby Australia boss Phil Waugh at a Sydney restaurant, sparking speculation that he could return to his old job.

But it has since been played down, with former London Irish boss Les Kiss, now in charge of Queensland Reds, seen as the clear favourite when Joe Schmidt stands down at the end of the Rugby Championship in October.

Cheika was immediately installed as the 3-1 favourite by Welsh bookies when it was announced that Gatland was leaving, with Simon Easterby and Franco Smith, two of his rivals, at 5-1.

Smith has since said that he wants to coach internationally again but has a £500,000 compensation clause in his Glasgow Warriors contract, which runs until the end of next season.

And the whispers coming out of Australia over the weekend suggest that Cheika is keen on taking on the task of rebuilding Wales.