Former Australia head coach Cheika lands new role at Japanese club
The 54-year-old has been appointed as director of rugby at NEC Green Rockets. By AFP Thursday 20 May 2021, 10:28 AM 2 hours ago 1,827 Views 0 Comments
Michael Cheika [file photo].
Image: David Davies
FORMER AUSTRALIA HEAD coach Michael Cheika has been named director of rugby at Japanese side NEC Green Rockets, the club has announced.
Cheika led the Wallabies to a 2015 World Cup final defeat to the All Blacks, before being named World Rugby coach of the year.
He ended a five-year stint in charge of Australia after a 2019 World Cup quarter-final defeat to England, and took up an advisory role with the Argentina national team last year.
Former Wallabies coach Cheika joins Japanese club NEC Green Rockets longbeachstar.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from longbeachstar.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
The No 8 – World Rugby’s player of the year in 2013 – played 128 tests (52 as captain) and won two Rugby World Cup medals with the All Blacks and four Super Rugby titles with the Crusaders. New Zealand Rugby issued a social media tribute, saying: “Thank you, Reado. We wish you all the best in your retirement from professional rugby.’’ World Rugby also congratulated Read on “a stellar career’’. Papakura-born Read made his first-class debut for Canterbury in 2006, and played for the Crusaders from 2007 to 2019, including several seasons as captain.
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Kieran Read made a big impact at Counties Manukau, on and off the field, in 2020.