Michael Cheika poised to return as Waratahs head coach 12 years after Super Rugby title

Michael Cheika is on the verge of returning to the NSW Waratahs as head coach, 12 years after guiding the Sydney franchise to their first Super Rugby title, according to a report by the Sydney Morning Herald.

The SMH reports that a likely two-year deal is currently being finalised and that the Waratahs are expected to make a formal announcement later this week. Cheika has been in discussions with Rugby Australia chief executive Phil Waugh for the past two weeks.

The timing of any start date carries some complexity. Cheika is still committed to leading Lebanon in the Rugby League World Cup and is also keen to see out the current NRL season in his role as assistant coach to Trent Robinson at the Sydney Roosters.

Cheika’s most recent position in the 15-man game came at Leicester Tigers in the Gallagher Premiership, where he helped steer the club to the 2025 Premiership final before returning to Australia to join the Roosters’ coaching staff for the 2026 NRL season.

Should the appointment be confirmed, Cheika will inherit an experienced halfback pairing in Nick Phipps and Bernard Foley, both of whom have recently signed with the Waratahs ahead of the Super Rugby Pacific season.

The Waratahs have been without a permanent head coach since the departure of Dan McKellar, who spent two seasons in charge but failed to guide the club into the Super Rugby Pacific playoffs in either campaign. Cheika’s return would represent a significant shift in ambition for a franchise that has struggled to recapture the form of its title-winning era.