- Michael Cheika will leave the Welford Road club at the end of the current season
- Matt Everard joined Tigers in 2022 after leaving during Wasps’ financial demise
Leicester Tigers have been engulfed in a coaching storm after soon-to-depart boss Michael Cheika removed assistant Matt Everard from his duties without consulting the club’s hierarchy. Everard, a former Leicester player, joined the Welford Road set-up in 2022 after leaving Wasps following their financial demise and had been working as defence coach.
Cheika, who is in his first and only season in charge of Leicester, stripped Everard of that role after the break for last year’s autumn internationals.
Mail Sport understands the two men disagreed over the systems and principles needed for the team’s defence.
It is also understood that after a run of poor results following their disagreement, Everard was told by Cheika last month not to return to work at all. Everard was told not to come to Welford Road on the morning of the club’s Premiership Cup match against Northampton and has not been to the club since, despite remaining under contract.
Leicester shipped 80 points in a Champions Cup hammering by European giants Toulouse in January – the heaviest loss the club has suffered in that competition.
They also conceded a record number of points at home in a Premiership game when beaten 54-24 by Bristol before Christmas.
Michael Cheika will leave Leicester after just one season at the end of the current campaign
Matt Everard was told by Cheika last month not to return to work at all after a disagreement, Mail Sport understands
Everard’s dismissal by Australian Cheika was done without the approval of Leicester’s chief executive Andrea Pinchen and general manager Richard Wilks.
Doing so has caused tension and frustration among Leicester’s playing group and hierarchy, especially as Cheika is leaving the club at the end of the season.
The experienced and no-nonsense former Leinster, Australia, Argentina, Stade Francais and Waratahs coach has been linked with numerous other jobs including a return to Australia, French side Racing 92 and the vacant Wales position.
Cheika’s shock move to move on from Everard was not well received by Leicester’s squad, with the club’s leading England internationals disappointed by the move after they conceded the fewest tries in the Premiership last season. Those sentiments have been expressed to Pinchen and Wilks.
In a dramatic development, it is also understood that Everard has been asked by those in Leicester’s corridors of power to return to the club for next season once Cheika has left.
That looks unlikely given the way he has been treated. Everard is of interest to Worcester Warriors, who are attempting to reform following their own financial demise in 2022 and hope to join a newly expanded tier-two competition in the division below the Gallagher Premiership.
Leicester, meanwhile, are still yet to announce who will succeed Cheika although former England assistant Paul Gustard – currently in charge of Stade Francais – is favourite to take on the role. Leicester return to Premiership action at East Midlands rivals Northampton tonight (FRI) sitting fourth in the table and with strong hopes of reaching the play-offs.
Asked for a response to Everard’s removal, a Leicester Tigers statement said: ‘Tigers don’t comment on employment matters of current staff, which Matt Everard is.’
