The Argentine Rugby Union (UAR) will officially confirm in the coming days Cheika’s appointment as head of the Argentine national team, whose main objective is to prepare for the 2023 World Cup in France.
“It was difficult for us to make the decision but we understood that Cheika was the right person to lead Los Pumas, since he had collaborated with Ledesma, and knows the philosophy and structure of Argentine rugby”a member of the UAR Board of Directors told Télam.
Rumors indicated former Pumas as possible coaches Felipe Contepomi and Gonzalo Quesadabut both were discarded.
“Quesada is very comfortable in France directing the Stade Francais in Paris and Contepomi lacks international contact to direct Los Pumas”pointed out the same source and indicated that the possibility that Felipe Contemporary, current coach of Irish Leinster, joins as a collaborator, as well as Mauritius Regiardodirector of rugby for Aix-en-Provence, a French club.
Cheika, was an advisor to Ledesma, during the Three Nations tournament 20220- in which The Cougars they beat the All Blacks for the first time ever – and also in internationals in July and last season’s Rugby Championship.
Among his main achievements, Cheika led the Australian team in the 2015 World Cup in England together with Ledesma, in which the Wallabies lost the final of the tournament against New Zealand by 34 to 17.
In addition, he became champion Leinster in the 2009 Heineken Cup by beating England’s Leicester 19-16.
Currently, the 55-year-old coach holds the position of Manager of the Green Rockets Tokatsu team of the professional rugby league in Japan.
The last antecedent in driving The Cougars by a foreign coach was in 1999, when New Zealander Alex Wyllie directed the Albiceleste team at the World Cup in Wales.
The Pumas will begin international activity next July when they host the Scottish team on Saturdays July 2, 9 and 16, matches that will be played in Jujuy, Salta and Santiago del Estero, respectively.
And starting in August they will participate in the Rugby Championship tournament together with the teams from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, current world champion.
Source: Ambito
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