England
Australia head coach Michael Cheika not interested in vacant England job
PA Sport
November 16, 2015
Michael Cheika © Getty Images
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England's search for their new head coach was dealt another blow after Australia's highly rated Michael Cheika ruled himself out of contention.

The Rugby Football Union has begun its search for Stuart Lancaster's successor following the Cumbrian's departure last week but Cheika, who guided the Wallabies into the World Cup final two weeks ago, is not interested in the post.

"No one from England has contacted me and they know that they can't contact me because I'm committed to Australia and that's where I want to be coaching," Cheika said.

"I'm an Australian coaching Australia, it's like the dream. There's nothing that would make me change my mind," Cheika said. I never thought I'd be coaching Australia. I'm enjoying it and I want to do the best I can in this role for as long as I can.

"You want to make sure that you give everything when you have the opportunity. When the chance comes to coach Australia, you don't say no to that. I've enjoyed the first year of doing it, it's been fantastic."

RFU chief executive Ian Ritchie is looking for a coach of "proven international experience", but Cheika's desire to continue at the helm of Australia has thinned an ever-decreasing field that now offers few options.

New Zealand's Steve Hansen, Joe Schmidt of Ireland and Wales boss Warren Gatland have stated they are not interested, as have Graham Henry and Wayne Smith who have compiled outstanding CVs with the All Blacks.

Eddie Jones, the mastermind of Japan's remarkable World Cup victory over South Africa last month, has to date is the only proven international coach to have invited an approach is Jake White.

White, however, has not coached a Test team since steering the Springboks to glory at France 2007.

Lancaster paid the price for England's disappointing World Cup in which they failed to advance from the group stage, stepping down as head coach, a decision the RFU board "unanimously accepted''.

Andy Farrell, Graham Rowntree and Mike Catt will keep their roles as assistants while the RFU conducts its search and Farrell could conceivably be at the helm for the Six Nations on an interim basis if no suitable candidate is found in time.

The determination to appoint a man of proven international experience would appear to rule out any of the directors of rugby at Aviva Premiership clubs, but Cheika believes the RFU should be looking closer to home.

"It's not really my place, but there are lots of good English coaches who could be coaching England for sure," Cheika said.

"If you look at a guy like Dorian West at Northampton, he's done such a good job with the scrum and forwards.

"There are also guys like Jim Mallinder, Rob Baxter and Dean Richards. I just think there are a lot of those guys who are typical of the English game and could do a lot for the team."

Northampton director of rugby Mallinder, however, has also ruled himself out of contention, stating he is "not going anywhere".

© PA Sport

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