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The race for the Waratahs’ head coaching role has become much more interesting after highly respected Australian coach Dan McKellar joined from Leicester Tigers over the weekend.
A “mutual” decision has been made to part ways with Australia attack coach Peter Hewat en route to England.
That leaves a cloud of uncertainty over the Tigers, with fellow Australian Dan Palmer, a forwards coach renowned as one of the best in the business at the scrum, remaining at Welford Road.
Dan McKellar has left his position as Leicester Tigers manager after just one season. (Photo by Damien Eagers/PA Images via Getty Images)
McKellar, 47, sensationalized the Wallabies’ World Cup campaign in early 2023 after Eddie Jones was announced as their new manager.
His arrival at Welford Road followed a domino-like chain of events that led to Steve Borthwick replacing Jones as England coach.
But McKellar’s only one year with the Tigers was anything but smooth.
The Tigers failed to qualify for the final after finishing eighth, losing in the Premiership Cup final and losing to Leinster in the last 16 of the Champions Cup.
Likewise, the Tigers lost several games at home and squandered their chances of finishing in the top four after suffering three successive defeats at home before a gutsy 40-22 win over Exeter to close the season.
A stunning 18-point win over the Chiefs looked like a victory that would build the momentum needed to head into the English summer with some hope.
Indeed, McKellar felt a win would be the springboard he needed, much in the same way it did in 2018, when his Brumbies defeated the Waratahs in the final game of the season and advanced to the semi-finals every year since that game.
But the decision to break up will put a stop to that.
“Leicester Tigers can confirm that Dan McKellar is stepping down from his position as Head Coach with immediate effect,” the statement said.
“This decision was mutually agreed following extensive discussions regarding the future direction of the club.
“McKellar joined the Tigers in July 2023 from the Wallabies, where he was assistant coach of the Australian national team, and coached 30 games in all competitions for the Tigers during the 23/24 campaign.
“The club has begun the process of finding a new manager to lead the men’s program for the 24/25 season. Pre-season training for male players not in the national team begins at Oval Park on July 1. We thank Dan for his contribution to Leicester Tigers and wish him, Carla, Amelie and Maya all the best for the future.”
that much british telegraph Reports are that Cheika, who previously won the role for McKellar, is once again being considered for the role.
Julian Montoya, former captain of the Argentina national team, is one of the Tigers’ stars.
Michael Cheika has been linked to the vacant Leicester manager’s job. (Photo credit: Paul Harding/Getty Images)
roar Cheika’s biggest preference would be to coach in the NRL or play for a first-tier international, with the Wallabies being his ideal destination, especially as he returns to Sydney from France with his family.
The former Wallabies coach and Los Pumas coach, who guided Argentina to the semifinals of the 2023 World Cup, are also very interested in France.
McKellar’s departure may seem sudden, but it is believed his exit has been coming for some time.
Even before I arrived in the English Midlands, I was anxious about my appointment.
Offensive coach Alan Dickens went on leave early in the season and McKellar appears not to have supported the decision to appoint him in the first place.
This left McKellar without an offensive coach or strength and conditioning coach for most of the season.
Hewat’s arrival was expected to help. But ultimately there was a philosophical disagreement between McKellar and where the Tigers wanted to go.
His departure allowed him to have a late crack at the Waratahs and the NSW board approached the director of rugby.
Dan McKellar has been Dave Rennie’s right-hand man at the Wallabies throughout the 2021 and 2022 seasons. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
Once that role is confirmed, the Waratahs will consult with Rugby Australia to consider taking on a head coaching role.
There are several candidates, including Scott Wisemantel and John Connolly’s choice Stephen Hoiles, but McKellar has the coaching pedigree and experience to be strongly considered.
McKellar joins Dave Rennie as his forwards coach after leading the Brumbies to back-to-back semi-final appearances in 2019 and 2022 and the Super Rugby AU title in 2020.
His appointment comes after turning the Brumbies’ maul and tight five into one of Super Rugby’s best teams and building on the strong culture built on the Australian franchise.
In fact, Borthwick contacted McKellar ahead of the 2019 World Cup to try and tap into the Australian’s deep knowledge.
These qualities are something the Waratahs desperately need. This is also something McKellar is interested in. Australians have long been perplexed by the Waratahs’ lack of development and the priorities of their tight five.
