Aussie national rugby coach resigns after crushing World Cup exit

0 Comment(s)Print E-mail Xinhua, October 21, 2019
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SYDNEY, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- The coach of Australia's national rugby union team, Michael Cheika, has announced that he will leave the position at the end of the year following a disappointing quarter-final loss at the World Cup in Japan.

Cheika announced on Sunday night that he will be leaving the Wallabies after five years as coach, the day after his side was thrashed 40-16 in a much hyped make-or-break game against historical rival England.

Previously Cheika had said that he would leave the position if Australia failed to win this year's World Cup.

"I'm the type of man who is always going to back what he says and I knew from the final whistle but I just wanted to give it that little bit time to cool down, talk to my people and then make it clear," he told reporters in Japan.

With his current contract finishing at the end of the year, Cheika said that he will not be seeking to renew his tenure as coach.

"I really feel attached to the team and it's an honor doing this role as the coach of Australia. It's not given to a lot of people and I take it with a lot of pride and a lot of honor," he said.

Despite reaching the World Cup final in his very first year as coach back in 2015, the team's performance under Cheika has steadily declined, leading some to criticise his leadership.

Overall, from 68 games in charge, Cheika walks away with a record of 34 wins, 32 losses and two draws.

In an open letter to fans, Rugby Australia chief executive Raelene Castle thanked Cheika for "his dedication and service" to the game, and said that the search for a new coach is already underway.

"The process for determining the Wallabies head coach for beyond 2019 is underway and will be concluded before year's end," she said. Enditem

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