RUGBY:MICHAEL CHEIKA has dismissed the latest speculation linking him with the vacant head coach position at the New South Wales Waratahs, refuting any notion that he would countenance walking away from Leinster after recently signing a two-year extension.
The Sydney Morning Herald yesterday reported that "NSW Rugby Union directors were eager for Cheika to be appointed to the position even though he recently signed a two-year extension with the Leinster club in Ireland".
It is believed they had sounded out Cheika before removing Ewen McKenzie after four wins from six games in the Super 14, and despite Cheika subsequently signing his new Leinster deal, the paper reported "the Waratahs have obviously not given up, and their interest has become far more serious. The Waratahs are not scheduled to make an official announcement until next month, but it could be fast-tracked."
However, Cheika sounded genuinely bemused by this latest development. "I've signed a contract here and I'm staying here. I don't know where this speculation has started from, but I'm certainly staying with Leinster for the next two years."
Cheika took over from Declan Kidney in 2005, and after a semi-final and quarter-final in his first two seasons in Europe, Leinster have regrouped well from this season's pool exit, last week's win over Munster having pushed them 11 points clear at the top of the Magners League table.
Cheika has beefed up the Leinster pack with some astute signings such as Leo Cullen, Shane Jennings, Ollie le Roux and Stanley Wright, as well as Chris Whitaker. He has also helped to groom the likes of Jamie Heaslip, Bernard Jackman, Rob Kearney, Luke Fitzgerald and soon, perhaps, Johnny Sexton for international rugby.
Although set to lose le Roux, Leinster have lined up a number of potential new signings, such as the Springboks prop CJ van der Linden, as well as enlisting Alan Gaffney as a technical consultant.
"I enjoy it here. The club has been good to me. There isn't any decision to make. I'd already made my decision so it's not even an issue for me and I want to concentrate on the footie," Cheika said yesterday, prior to Friday's trip to Edinburgh where a win could both exorcise some Euro demons and effectively seal the title.
To that end, an unwell Shane Horgan is a doubt for Friday's game, but both Brian O'Driscoll and Christian Warner came through a full session yesterday, with the Leinster and Irish captain likely to be fit for Murrayfield after recovering from the torn hamstring he sustained in the Six Nations against Wales.
