Michael Cheika has moved from France back to Australia © Getty Images

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Players/Officials: Michael Cheika

Tournaments/Tours: Super Rugby

Teams: New South Wales Waratahs

Former Leinster coach Michael Cheika has taken over the reins at the Waratahs, the Super Rugby club confirmed on Tuesday morning.

Cheika spent five years at Leinster before moving on to Top 14 outfit Stade Francais, where he has spent the last two seasons. The 45-year-old departed the French club in May and earned the approval of the Waratahs board following the shock resignation of Michael Foley last month.

"On behalf of the whole organisation, I'd like to welcome Michael to Waratahs Rugby. We are thrilled to have him on board," chairman Roger Davis said. "In addition to a wealth of domestic and international coaching experience, Michael has a proven track record as an inspirational leader and an agent of change.

"We believe he is the right man to embrace the Waratahs' great tradition and ambition and develop a strong and successful culture that embraces all our supporters, partners and stakeholders."

The Sydney-born Cheika will now return home on a permanent basis, having previously tasted Magners League and Heineken Cup success with Leinster.

"The opportunity to coach the Super Rugby team of my home state and the responsibility to make all our supporters and all people from NSW proud of their team is one that motivates me immensely," Cheika said. "I am really looking forward to being part of this new era in NSW rugby and will bring all the passion and professionalism I have to make this team one everyone will be proud of.

"My immediate goal is to establish our identity loud and clear, inside and outside of the team; who we are, how we are going to play the game and what we are prepared to do to earn the respect of our team mates, our supporters and our competitors, as individuals and as a team. By achieving this we will earn the right to think about getting some good results."