Michael Cheika is preparing for another chapter in his storied coaching career, as the 58-year-old Australian prepares to return as head coach of Lebanon’s Cedars for the 2026 Rugby League World Cup.
Cheika, who announced he will step down as Leicester Tigers head coach at the end of the current Premiership season, will again take the reins of Lebanon’s national team, having previously guided the Cedars to the quarter-finals of the 2022 tournament. That campaign ended in a 48-4 defeat to eventual champions Australia in Huddersfield, but featured memorable wins over Ireland and Jamaica following a warm-up victory against Wales.
Balancing commitments across both rugby codes, Cheika’s last stint with Lebanon was juggled with his role as head coach of Argentina’s rugby union team, whom he led to a notable 30-29 win over England at Twickenham. That autumn international series also included narrow losses to Wales in Cardiff and Scotland in Edinburgh.
Cheika’s impact at Leicester has been just as significant. Appointed in June, he has turned around the Tigers’ fortunes, elevating them from an eighth-place Premiership finish last season to title contenders in the current campaign. Leicester are eyeing their first domestic crown since the 2021-22 season, a feat that would cap off Cheika’s union tenure in England on a high.
Despite his departure from club rugby, Cheika’s coaching journey is far from over. With the 2026 Rugby League World Cup to be co-hosted by Australia and Papua New Guinea, Lebanon is among eight teams to have automatically qualified after reaching the last eight in 2022. The Cedars join Australia, England, Fiji, New Zealand, Samoa, Tonga and the hosts in the slimmed-down tournament. The final two spots will be determined by qualifying matches later this year.
France are set to host Jamaica in the northern hemisphere qualifier on October 25 in Albi, while the southern hemisphere showdown between Cook Islands and South Africa awaits confirmation of date and venue.
Cheika, whose coaching origins trace back to Italy in 1999 after a playing career across Australia and Europe, took charge of Lebanon in 2020 following the departure of Brad Fittler. His coaching résumé includes stints with Randwick, Leinster, Stade Francais, the Waratahs, and a five-year spell leading Australia’s national union side until 2019. He later worked under Trent Robinson at the Sydney Roosters and also coached in Japan.
Looking ahead, Cheika is expected to organize international fixtures later this year as part of his preparations for the World Cup. In addition to steering Lebanon on the global stage, he has expressed a commitment to developing rugby league further in the country, with a focus on expanding the women’s game.
Cheika’s next move in union remains unconfirmed, but his return to international rugby league marks another chapter in one of the sport’s most versatile coaching careers.
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