Michael Cheika

Australian Wallabies coach Michael Cheika insisted Monday he had no interest in taking over the vacant England position, as he joined a growing list of high-profile figures in ruling himself out as a successor to Stuart Lancaster.

Last week saw Lancaster quit as England coach, as he paid the price for a poor Rugby World Cup, which saw England become the 1st host nation to fail to get out of the group phase.

“No one from there (England’s governing Rugby Football Union) has contacted me and they know they can’t contact me because I am committed to Australia,” Cheika, who led the Wallabies to last month’s Rugby World Cup final at Twickenham Stadium, said.

“That’s where I want to be coaching.”

With RFU chief executive Ian Ritchie making it clear he wanted a coach of “proven international experience” to replace Lancaster, Cheika’s name was mentioned following his success in guiding the Wallabies to the southern hemisphere Rugby Championship title and the Rugby World Cup final in barely a year since taking charge.

Ritchie also made it clear that money was no object.

However Cheika – back in England for the temporary role of coaching the Barbarians in the multi-national invitational side’s matches against Gloucester and Argentina – was adamant nothing could tempt him away from the Wallabies.

“I’m an Australian coaching Australia – it’s like the dream,” he said. “There’s nothing that would make me change my mind.”

New Zealand’s Steve Hansen and fellow Kiwi Joe Schmidt, in charge of Ireland, have also said they are not interested in the England job.

Graham Henry, New Zealand’s Rugby World Cup-winning coach on home soil 4 years ago, is another to insist he has no interest in the England role, with compatriot Wayne Smith – who helped the All Blacks to Rugby World Cup glory this year – equally emphatic that the Red Rose post is not for them.

Meanwhile Australia’s Eddie Jones, the man behind Japan’s stunning Rugby World Cup win over South Africa last month, has insisted he is committed to his new role with the DHL Stormers.

The only major overseas coach to declare his interest in the England job is South Africa’s Jake White, who hasn’t been in charge of a Test side since guiding the Springboks to Rugby World Cup glory in 2007.

Cheika, whose current contract with the Australia Rugby Union expires in 2017, made it clear he was determined to stay with the Wallabies for as long as possible.

“I never thought I’d be coaching Australia,” said Cheika, who as a player never won a Test cap for the Wallabies. “I’m enjoying that and I want to do the best I can in that role for as long as I can.

“You want to make sure that you give everything when you have the opportunity,” he added.

“When the chance comes to coach Australia, you don’t say no to that. I’ve enjoyed the 1st year of doing it, it’s been fantastic.”

Sport24