History of Michael Cheika in Timeline
Michael Cheika is an Australian professional rugby union and rugby league coach, and former rugby union player. He is known for his passionate and demanding coaching style. He has coached at various levels, including club teams like Leinster and Stade Francais, leading Leinster to a Heineken Cup victory. Cheika coached the Australian national rugby union team (the Wallabies) from 2014 to 2019, guiding them to the final of the 2015 Rugby World Cup. In 2022, he took over as the coach of the Argentina national rugby team, showcasing his international coaching experience.
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Amy Poehler and Tina Fey returned to SNL, portraying Pam Bondi and Kristi Noem in a Senate Judiciary sketch. They further engaged in a joke-off with Seth Meyers, showcasing their comedic timing alongside Colin Jost and Michael Che.
1958: Worst Win-Loss Record Since 1958
In 1958, Australia had their worst win-loss record before repeating this result in 2018.
March 1967: Michael Cheika Born
In March 1967, Michael Cheika, who would become an accomplished Australian rugby union and rugby league coach and former player, was born.
1971: Last Whitewash in Home Series
In 2016, Australia lost all three tests to be whitewashed for the first time in a home series since South Africa won 3–0 in 1971.
1983: Argentina's best victorious margin of fifteen points
Before 2022, Argentina's best victorious margin was fifteen points in 1983.
1992: Joined Rugby Livorno
In 1992, Michael Cheika joined Italian side Rugby Livorno alongside his Randwick teammate David Knox.
1993: Represented Italian Selection XV
In 1993, Michael Cheika represented an Italian Selection XV against the All Blacks.
1994: Continued Playing for Rugby Livorno
In 1994, Michael Cheika continued playing for Rugby Livorno, having joined the Italian side in 1992.
1996: Fourth Title Since 1996
In 2015, the Wallabies won their first ever Rugby Championship title, although including the former Tri-Nations format it was the Wallabies' fourth title since the competition began in 1996.
1997: Argentina's previous heaviest defeat to New Zealand
Before September 2022, Argentina's heaviest defeat to New Zealand came in 1997.
1997: Captained Randwick and Represented New South Wales
In 1997, Michael Cheika captained Randwick and represented New South Wales on their spring tour of the UK.
1999: Began Coaching Career in Italy
In 1999, Michael Cheika began his coaching career in Italy after David Campese brought his attention to a coaching job. Cheika and Knox coached Petrarca Padova, but the Heineken Cup campaign did not yield any wins.
1999: Captained Randwick
In 1999, Michael Cheika continued his captaincy of Randwick.
2001: Leinster's First Trophy Since 2001
In 07/08 Leinster won the Celtic League trophy with a bonus point 41–8 victory against the Newport Gwent Dragons. It was Cheika's first trophy as Leinster coach and Leinster's first since the 2001 Celtic League.
2001: Draw against South Africa
In 2001, Australia and South Africa drew for the first time before repeating this result in 2017.
2001: Returned to Sydney
In 2001, Michael Cheika returned to Sydney when his father fell ill.
2001: Rod Macqueen Won World Rugby Coach of the Year
On 1 November 2015, Cheika was named 2015 World Rugby Coach of the Year, becoming the first Australian coach to win the award since Rod Macqueen in 2001.
2002: Last Time Australia Won the Bledisloe Cup
Australia last won the Bledisloe Cup in 2002 before nearly reclaiming the cup in 2019.
2003: England Won Back-to-Back Tests
The first test in 2016, lost 39-28, saw England win back-to-back tests on Australian soil for the first time since 2003, while winning at Brisbane for the first ever time.
2004: Guided Randwick to Shute Shield Victory
In 2004, Michael Cheika guided his old club, Randwick, to a Shute Shield victory, leveraging his European coaching experience.
2005: Became Head Coach at Leinster
In 2005, Michael Cheika replaced Declan Kidney as head coach at Leinster, bringing his former teammate David Knox as an assistant coach. This move was described as a calculated punt by Leinster's chief executive, Mick Dawson, due to the contentious circumstances surrounding Kidney's departure.
2005: Worst Record Since 2005
In the end of year tour, Australia lost three out of four test matches, their worst record since 2005. Cheika made it clear that the scrum needed to be fixed before the World Cup, and later sacked the forwards coach Andrew Blades.
June 2008: Cheika's marriage
In June 2008, Michael Cheika married Stephanie.
2008: Wales' Win Over Australia
2009: Led Leinster to Heineken Cup Victory
In 2009, Michael Cheika led Leinster to European success, guiding the team to the 2009 Heineken Cup Final where they secured a 19–16 victory over Leicester Tigers, clinching Leinster's first-ever European title.
2009: Won Heineken Cup with Leinster
In 2009, Michael Cheika won the Heineken Cup with Leinster, marking a significant achievement in his coaching career.
2009: Led Leinster to Top of Celtic League
In his final season in charge, during 2009-10, Michael Cheika led Leinster to the top of the table in the revamped Celtic League. However, they lost in the semi-final to the Ospreys.
2009: Declan Kidney Won World Rugby Coach of the Year
On 1 November 2015, Cheika was named 2015 World Rugby Coach of the Year, becoming the first non-New Zealander coach to win it since Ireland's Declan Kidney in 2009.
2010: Stade Français Finished 11th
During the 2010–11 Top 14 season, Stade Français finished 11th in the standings with only 10 wins from 26. In the 2010–11 European Challenge Cup, Stade Français clinched top seed after the pool stage, winning all six of their matches. Cheika's team beat Clermont, who had dropped down from the Heineken Cup, by 29–25 in the semifinal, but narrowly lost to Harlequins 19–18 in the final at Cardiff.
2010: Started Two Specialized Opensides
During the All Blacks match in 2015, Cheika started two specialized opensides for the first time since 2010. They were both influential in the Wallabies win.
2010: Became Director of Rugby at Stade Français
In 2010, Michael Cheika became the Director of Rugby for the Paris-based club, Stade Français.
2011: Stade Français Improved Standing
In the 2011–12 Top 14 season, Stade Français improved on their previous standing, finishing seventh with 11 wins. The team again clinched the top seeding in the European Challenge Cup but lost in the semifinal by 32–29 to Toulon.
2012: Appointed Head Coach of Waratahs
In 2012, Michael Cheika was appointed as head coach of the New South Wales Waratahs for the 2013 Super Rugby season.
2012: Sacked from Stade Français
In 2012, Michael Cheika was sacked from his position as Director of Rugby at Stade Français due to off-field conflicts and mediocre on-field results.
October 2014: Appointed Head Coach of Australia National Team
On October 22, 2014, Michael Cheika was appointed as the head coach of the Australia national rugby team with a three-year contract through the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
2014: Coached Australia and Won Super Rugby Title
In 2014, Michael Cheika began his tenure as the coach of the Australian national rugby union team. Also in 2014, he achieved success with the New South Wales Waratahs, winning the Super Rugby title, making him the only coach to win major club competitions in both hemispheres.
2014: Secured Key Signings for Waratahs
In 2014, Michael Cheika secured key signings for the Waratahs, including Kurtley Beale, Nick Phipps, Jacques Potgieter, and Taqele Naiyaravoro.
2015: Victory over the All Blacks
Ahead of the Wallabies' Spring tour, Cheika led Australia to a 23–18 victory over the All Blacks in the third Bledisloe Cup of 2015. It was the first time since 2015 that the Wallabies had defeated the world champions.
2015: Won Rugby Championship
During the 2015 Rugby Championship, Michael Cheika led the Wallabies to their first-ever Rugby Championship title by winning against New Zealand, for the first time since 2010.
2015: Waratahs' Super Rugby Season
During the 2015 Super Rugby season, the Waratahs, under Cheika, faced challenges, including losses to the Western Force and suspensions of players. They were defeated in the semifinal by the Highlanders.
2015: Coached Wallabies Through World Cup
In 2015, Michael Cheika coached the Wallabies through the Rugby World Cup as part of his three-year contract.
2015: Led Australia to Rugby World Cup Final
In 2015, Michael Cheika led Australia to the Rugby World Cup final, where they lost to New Zealand 34-17. On November 1, 2015, he was named World Rugby Coach of the Year.
2015: World Rugby Coach of the Year
In 2015, Michael Cheika received the World Rugby Coach of the Year award after leading Australia to the 2015 Rugby World Cup final.
2015: Giteau's Law
In the lead up to the 2015 World Cup, Cheika is credited for inventing Giteau's law which enabled overseas based players to play for Australia.
2016: Cheika led Australia to second in the 2016 Rugby Championship
In 2016, Michael Cheika led Australia to second place in the Rugby Championship, overcoming an initial aggregate score deficit of 71–17 against New Zealand in the first two matches. The Wallabies secured their first win of the season against South Africa, winning 23–17, and then defeated Argentina 36–20. Despite narrowly missing a victory against South Africa in Pretoria, they triumphed over Argentina in London. In the final Bledisloe Cup on October 22, Australia were defeated 37–10. The 2016 Spring tour included a convincing win against Wales 32–8, a narrow victory over Scotland 23–22, and a win against France 25–23, but also losses to Ireland 27–24 and England 37–21.
2017: Australia's 2017 Season
In 2017, Australia started the season with a 37–14 victory over Fiji, with Cheika giving four players their international debut. The team then lost to Scotland 24–19, marking the first time Australia had lost to Scotland twice in a row at home. They secured a 40–27 victory over Italy. During the 2017 Rugby Championship, Cheika faced criticism for frequently changing match day teams. The Championship included a 54–34 loss to New Zealand, a narrow 35–29 loss in the return fixture, and two draws against South Africa (23–23 and 27–27). Australia concluded the season with a 37–20 victory against Argentina.
2018: Dismal Run in Autumn Internationals and Review of Performance
Cheika's team had a dismal run in the 2018 autumn internationals, losing to Wales 9–6 (their first win over Australia since 2008) and salvaging a victory against Italy 26–7. They ended the year with a sixth consecutive defeat to England, losing 37–18. The team's record of four wins out of thirteen test matches was their worst since 1958. A review of the team's performance was conducted by Rugby Australia, which decided to back Cheika through to the 2019 World Cup.
2018: Criticism and Poor Results during the 2018 Rugby Championship
During the 2018 Rugby Championship, Cheika faced severe criticism due to the team's poor form and results. The team won only two games, leading to questions about his job in the Australian media. Key events included a loss to New Zealand (38–13), a victory over South Africa (23–18) to retain the Mandela Challenge Plate, a loss to Argentina (23–19), which was the first time since 1983 that Argentina beat Australia on home soil and losses to South Africa (23-12).
2018: Series Defeat Against Ireland
In 2018, Cheika led the Wallabies to a series defeat against Ireland, losing 2–1 despite winning the first test 18–9. A first loss to Ireland at home since 1979 in the second test (26–21) followed by a close encounter in the third test (16–20), meant Ireland claimed a first ever series win over Australia. It was also a first for Cheika in the second test, naming an unchanged matchday 23 for two consecutive tests, retaining the same team from the first test.
2019: Backed through to the 2019 World Cup
After review of the team's performance in 2018, Rugby Australia backed Cheika through to the 2019 World Cup.
2019: Resignation as Head Coach
At the 2019 Rugby World Cup, Australia won three of their four pool matches but lost to Wales, leading to a quarter-final fixture with England. A 40–16 defeat by England ended the Australian campaign, and Cheika announced his resignation as head coach by the end of 2019.
2019: End of Australia Coaching Tenure
In 2019, Michael Cheika's tenure as the coach of the Australia rugby union team came to an end.
2019: Changes in the Australian Set-Up
In 2019, Stephen Larkham was sacked as attack coach, and a selection panel was introduced, consisting of Cheika, Scott Johnson, and Michael O'Connor. The team experienced a 35–17 loss to South Africa but later defeated Argentina 16–10 and New Zealand 47–26. Despite this, they lost 36–0 in the second Bledisloe Cup match, preventing them from reclaiming the cup for the first time since 2002.
September 2020: Joins Argentine Rugby Union
In September 2020, the Argentine Rugby Union (UAR) announced that Cheika had joined the Pumas prior to the 2020 Tri Nations Series, taking up an advisory role and re-joining former Wallabies assistant coach, Mario Ledesma.
May 2021: Appointed Director of Rugby of Green Rockets
In May 2021, Michael Cheika was appointed as the director of rugby for the Japanese rugby union team, Green Rockets.
2021: Coached Lebanon in Rugby League World Cup
In 2021, Michael Cheika coached Lebanon in the Rugby League World Cup.
2021: 2021 Rugby League World Cup Postponement
In 2021, the Rugby League World Cup was postponed to October and November 2022.
2021: Ahead of the 2021 Rugby League World Cup
In November 2020, Michael Cheika was appointed as the head coach of Lebanon, the country of his parents' birth, ahead of the 2021 Rugby League World Cup.
March 2022: Confirmed as Coach for Argentina
In March 2022, Michael Cheika's appointment as the coach of the Argentina national rugby union team was confirmed, holding the position from 2022 until the 2023 Rugby World Cup, after which assistant coach Felipe Contepomi would take over.
September 2022: Argentina Suffers Heavy Defeat to New Zealand
In September 2022, Argentina suffered their heaviest defeat to New Zealand since 1997, losing 53–3. The loss put Argentina last on the Rugby Championship table. Despite the heavy defeat, Argentina went up one ranking (7th to 6th), due to Australia losing at home to South Africa.
September 2022: Will Genia Predicts Cheika's Return to Coaching Australia
In September 2022, former Australia scrum-half under Michael Cheika, Will Genia, expressed his belief that Cheika could return to coaching Australia.
November 2022: Coaching two national teams
In November 2022, the 2021 Rugby League World Cup was postponed to October and November 2022, coinciding with Argentina's tour of Great Britain. Despite reports of the difficulty of coaching two national teams simultaneously, Michael Cheika maintained both positions.
2022: Appointed Argentina National Team Coach
In 2022, Michael Cheika was appointed as the coach of the Argentina national rugby team.
2023: Contepomi to take over
Felipe Contepomi would take over as head coach after the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
2023: Coached Argentina at the Rugby World Cup
In 2023, Michael Cheika coached the Argentina national team at the Rugby World Cup.
2023: Cheika leaves the Green Rockets
In early 2023, Michael Cheika departed from his role with the Green Rockets.
June 2024: Tigers Appoint Cheika as Head Coach
On June 27, 2024, Tigers appointed Cheika as their new head coach.
October 2024: Ban from the Rugby Football Union
On October 2, 2024, he was given a two-week ban, with one week suspended, by the Rugby Football Union after being found guilty of "disrespecting" a match-day doctor during his first game in charge of Leicester.
January 2025: Cheika to leave Leicester at the end of the 2024-25 season
In January 2025, it was confirmed that he would be stepping down as head coach following the conclusion of his contract at the end of the season. In January 2025 Cheika confirmed he would be leaving Leicester at the end of the 2024-25 Premiership Rugby season. Under Cheika Tigers form improved and he led the side to the 2025 Premiership Rugby final, where they lost 23-21 to Bath.
April 2025: Resuming role as head coach of Lebanon
On 4 April 2025, it was reported that Michael Cheika would resume his role as head coach of Lebanon in preparation for the 2026 World Cup.
September 2025: Joining Sydney Roosters coaching staff
On 15 September 2025, it was reported that Michael Cheika had joined the coaching staff of Sydney Roosters as assistant coach, following Justin Holbrook's departure to Newcastle Knights.
2026: Preparation for the 2026 World Cup
In April 2025, it was reported that Michael Cheika would resume his role as head coach of Lebanon in preparation for the 2026 World Cup.
2026: To Coach Lebanon in World Cup
Michael Cheika is scheduled to coach Lebanon again in the 2026 Rugby League World Cup.
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