Who is Argentina Rugby Coach? Meet Michael Cheika
by Alaguvelan M
Updated Jul 15, 2023
Who is Argentina Rugby Coach?
Michael Cheika, an accomplished Australian rugby coach and former player, currently holds the position of head coach for the Argentina rugby union team. After serving as an assistant coach and advisor in 2020, he was appointed as the head coach in 2021. Additionally, since 2020, Cheika has also been the head coach for the Lebanon rugby league team.
Throughout his coaching career, Cheika has achieved notable success, including winning the prestigious Heineken Cup with Leinster in 2009 and securing the Super Rugby title with the New South Wales Waratahs in 2014. From 2014 to 2019, he served as the head coach of the Australian rugby union team, leading them to the final of the 2015 Rugby World Cup and earning the esteemed World Rugby Coach of the Year award in the same year.
Cheika's coaching style is characterized by his passion and emotional approach, which occasionally sparks controversy. Recently, he voiced his frustration towards the organizers of the Rugby Championship, criticizing the perceived disrespect shown towards his team prior to their match against Australia in Townsville. Cheika alleged inadequate facilities and exclusion from a photo opportunity with the trophy.
As a passionate and demanding coach known for his meticulous attention to detail, Cheika has injected fresh energy and intensity into the Argentina team since taking the helm. Under his leadership, the team has achieved remarkable success, winning six out of nine matches, including a notable victory over the formidable All Blacks in New Zealand.
Cheika is highly regarded and admired in Argentina, where he is seen as a pivotal figure in the team's aspirations to triumph in the upcoming 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Meet Michael Cheika
Michael Cheika was born on March 4, 1967, in Sydney, Australia. He is a former Australian rugby player and coach who enjoyed a successful rugby career before moving into coaching.
Cheika played as a back-row forward for Randwick in the Sydney club competition, earning himself a reputation as one of the most successful rugby players in Sydney's club history. He later played in Italy for Livorno and then for Paris's Stade Francais, where he won the French championship in 1998.
After retiring from playing rugby, Cheika transitioned into coaching, first at Leinster in Ireland, then returning to Australia to coach the Waratahs in 2013. Under his guidance, the Waratahs went on to win the Super Rugby title in 2014.
Cheika was later appointed as the coach of the Australian national rugby team, the Wallabies, in 2014 and achieved significant success during his tenure, including guiding the Wallabies to their first Rugby Championship title in 2015 and the Rugby World Cup final in the same year.
After stepping down as the Wallabies' coach in 2019, Cheika took on a new role as a consultant coach for Rugby United New York in the United States before being appointed as head coach of the Lebanon national rugby union team in 2022.
Known for his passion and energy on the rugby pitch, as well as his tactical astuteness as a coach, Cheika is widely respected in the rugby community around the world. He is considered to be one of the game's most successful and influential coaches of our time.
Where The Wallabies Lost To Cheika's Pumas Due To A Last-Minute Win?
Eddie Jones has just delivered his thoughts on Stan Sport, expressing his disappointment following the Wallabies' back-to-back defeats against Argentina. It was another disappointing outcome in Sydney, as the Wallabies have won only one out of their last 12 Tests in the city since 2016.
Jones acknowledged the weight of the loss and emphasized the team's own responsibility for the defeat. He highlighted the need for improved decision-making and ball control, acknowledging that they handed the ball back to the opponents far too often.
The night was marked by poor discipline, as the Wallabies let victory slip away against the Michael Cheika-coached Pumas at Parramatta Stadium. Despite a late comeback with two tries in the final ten minutes, the Wallabies ultimately succumbed to a last-minute score by Argentina's Juan Martin Gonzalez.
The defeat leaves Jones winless since his return as coach, and the injury of star centre Len Ikitau adds further concern for the team's prospects in the upcoming Rugby World Cup. With losses to both the Springboks and Pumas, the Wallabies' campaign under Eddie Jones hasn't gone according to plan.
Looking ahead, the Wallabies have a break before facing the All Blacks in Melbourne on July 29, followed by Bledisloe II in Dunedin. They will then have a World Cup warm-up match against France in Paris on August 27 before commencing their campaign against Georgia on September 9. Tonight's match represented a missed opportunity to secure a win before the World Cup, and the pressure will be on as they approach the pinnacle event.
The dramatic try by Argentina in the final minute sealed the Wallabies' fate, and it was a bitter pill to swallow for the team after their brief lead. The defeat stings, and the Wallabies are now facing the challenge of regrouping and finding their winning form under Eddie Jones.
Michael Cheika Career
After retiring from playing rugby, Cheika transitioned into coaching, where he first coached at Leinster in Ireland, where he helped the team win the European Rugby Champions Cup in 2009. He later returned to Australia, where he coached the Waratahs in 2013. Under his leadership, the Waratahs won the Super Rugby title in 2014.
Cheika's coaching skills earned him a new role as the coach of the Australian national rugby team, known as the Wallabies, in 2014. During his tenure as Wallabies coach, Cheika led the team to win the 2015 Rugby Championship, defeating New Zealand, South Africa, and Argentina. He also guided the Wallabies to the Rugby World Cup final in the same year, where they lost to New Zealand. This achievement earned him several accolades, including the World Rugby Coach of the Year Award.
After stepping down as Wallabies coach in 2019, Cheika took on a new role as a consultant coach for Rugby United New York in the United States before being appointed head coach of the Lebanon national rugby union team.
Michael Cheika's passion, energy, and tactical astuteness as a coach have made him one of the most successful and respected rugby coaches in the world. His rugby career is a testament to his commitment to excellence, and he has achieved significant success both as a player and as a coach.
Who is Argentina Rugby Coach - FAQs
The current coach of the Argentina rugby team is Michael Cheika.
Michael Cheika is an Australian rugby union and rugby league coach, as well as a former rugby union player.
Yes, Michael Cheika has served as the head coach of the Australia rugby union team from 2014 to 2019, among other coaching roles.
Michael Cheika won the Heineken Cup with Leinster in 2009 and Super Rugby with the New South Wales Waratahs in 2014. He was also named World Rugby Coach of the Year in 2015.
The Argentina team has won six out of their nine matches under Michael Cheika's leadership.