Overview
- The NSW Waratahs confirmed on Wednesday that Michael Cheika will be their head coach for the 2027 Super Rugby Pacific season and will formally start with the club in November after finishing other commitments.
- Reports differ on the deal’s length: the club says Cheika signed for 2027 with an option for 2028, while some outlets describe a two-year agreement.
- Cheika will remain with the Sydney Roosters through the end of the 2026 NRL season and is reported to have a coaching role with Lebanon at the Rugby League World Cup before joining the Waratahs.
- The Waratahs have already re-signed halfbacks Bernard Foley and Nick Phipps and say Rugby Australia will allow salary-cap flexibility to support immediate marquee recruitment.
- The move follows Dan McKellar’s June departure after an eighth-place finish in 2026, and Cheika’s high-profile return aims to reverse the club’s recent decline and rebuild support in New South Wales.