Infotainment Factory: Cheika spotted with Waugh as Wallabies coach race heats up

Michael Cheika remains in the mix to return for a second stint as Wallabies coach after meeting with Rugby Australia's boss.

According to The Sydney Morning Herald, Cheika met with chief executive Phil Waugh on Tuesday as discussions ramp up regarding Joe Schmidt's successor.

Schmidt announced earlier this month he would step down from the role at the end of the Rugby Championship in October and decision makers are now in the process of finding a replacement to lead Australia into the 2027 Rugby World Cup on home soil.

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Former Argentina head coach Michael Cheika during the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

Cheika was spotted with Waugh in North Sydney on Tuesday and he has made no secret about his ambitions for a second tenure in charge of the national side.

The 57-year-old previously led the Wallabies to an appearance in the 2015 World Cup final before losing in the 2019 World Cup quarter-finals and later taking a position with Argentina.

Cheika is leaving his job in charge of the Leicester Tigers at the end of the England season.

Schmidt decided he needed to offer more immediate support to his son and wife Kellie but is open to staying on RA's books in an advisory role should his successor want him to.

His son, Luke, lives in Taupo, New Zealand, and requires constant care for his severe epilepsy.

The million dollar question is whether Cheika and Schmidt could work together and Morgan Turinui thinks yes.

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"The mature, battle hardened Cheik I think is self aware enough to know that he doesn't have all the answers," Turinui told Wide World of Sports.

"He loves having other people around to complement him now. I was really impressed with the way he built his Argentinian coaching staff, the continuity that Argentina had from (Mario) Ledesma to Cheik to (Felipe) Contepomi.

"I think Cheik's at a place in his life where he would 100 per cent consider it and have the discussion with Joe.

"'This is what I'm thinking, Joe. What are you thinking, Joe? Are we aligned? And if we're aligned, let's do it'.

"I think he's too smart a guy to dismiss the IP and the work done by Joe Schmidt out of hand.

"If Rugby Australia went to Michael Cheika - you can be the Wallabies coach, but we'd love you to consider working with Joe Schmidt - there's no way that he dismisses that out of hand."

Among the other potential candidates for the Wallabies job are Queensland's Les Kiss, the Waratahs' Dan McKellar and the Brumbies' Stephen Larkham.

RA have begun talks with all three Australian coaches, who are under contract for 2026.

Foreign possibilities include La Rochelle's Ronan O'Gara and Vern Cotter of the Blues.