News | Rugby
22 Jan 2026 19:34
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Sports > Rugby

    AAP_Distribution a0046 ds -----

    AAP_Distribution a0046 ds -----


    Michael Cheika wants his Leicester players to trust each other one more time and finish their season journey together with victory over Bath in the Gallagher Premiership final, which will be his last match in charge. Australian Cheika will leave the Tigers at the end of his one-year contract, with former Leicester player Geoff Parling set to take charge in the summer.?p> Cheika - who guided the Wallabies to the 2015 World Cup final and then took Argentina into the last four two years ago - has been credited with transforming the mentality of a Leicester squad who finished eighth in the 2023-24 campaign.?p> The 58-year-old, though, maintains the Tigers' progress this season - finishing second in the table and then beating Sale in the play-off semi-finals - is very much down to a collective effort.?p> "That is a really fundamental part of building teams," said Cheika, whose Leinster side won the 2009 European Champions Cup before he then took the NSW Waratahs to the 2014 Super Rugby title.?p> "First they have got to be able to trust each other - we have got to be able to have honest conversations and being prepared to have a fight with each other.?p> "As long as it is a fight where you are going in the same direction, then you are trying to get the same thing done, that's okay.?p> "Building up mentally is important and it is a continual workout - you have never arrived at the place you have got to be at, because every time you meet another challenge, you have got to then go and delve into that.?p> "I have definitely learned a lot from them and I hope they have been able to learn a bit from me."?p> Cheika added: "They are playing as part of a team, and in the team, those dynamics are extremely important.?p> "We are going to need that on Saturday, because we are playing against the team that dominated the league and we need to find a way to master that opponent."?p> Cheika, though, does not want his players turning up at the Allianz Stadium just to enjoy the occasion - which will be the last game before club stalwarts Dan Cole and Ben Youngs retire while Tigers captain Julian Montoya and South Africa fly-half Handre Pollard are also set to move on.?p> "You work hard to get yourself in a position to have an opportunity at the title, so when it is there, you would be mad not to take it," Cheika said.?p> "Together, we have built a good deal. We have improved our mental preparation and our the mental side of our game, the resilience or the grit that we have got in games.?p> "But you are going to need more than just that as well - you need quality, you need all those things.?p> "I suppose it is more just about being ready to balance out what is the emotional part and what is the technical part, and make sure you have got both of those clearly defined as to what their use is." 06-12-25 2024

    © 2026 Newstalk ZB, NZCity

     Other Rugby News
     22 Jan: Former All Black Tony Brown has confirmed he intends to honour his contract as an assistant with South Africa, rather than make himself available for inclusion in any New Zealand coaching group
     22 Jan: Tony Brown is keeping his All Blacks coaching aspirations alive - just not now
     22 Jan: Former All Blacks first-five Lima Sopoaga suggests Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph's people skills make him the best option to take over the national team job from Scott Robertson
     21 Jan: The Black Sticks women are vowing to capitalize on preparation time before August's hockey World Cup in Belgium and the Netherlands
     21 Jan: Black Sticks women's coach Phil Burrows is eager to see internal competition at this week's four-team international tournament in Dunedin
     21 Jan: The next All Blacks coach will begin their tenure against an under-strength French side on July 4
     20 Jan: Indiana have completed a remarkable turnaround to win college football's national championship for the first time
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Former All Black Tony Brown has confirmed he intends to honour his contract as an assistant with South Africa, rather than make himself available for inclusion in any New Zealand coaching group More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    It's thought a shift in how young people invest - is altering the housing market More...



     Today's News

    Entertainment:
    Drew Starkey has been appointed brand ambassador for Dior 19:10

    Tennis:
    Novak Djokovic's family may have had to stay at home - but the 10-time champion has brought his best tennis to day five of the Australian Open 19:07

    Cricket:
    The Black Caps are cutting back their training load, so they can stay fresh for next month's T20 World Cup 18:57

    Business:
    It's thought a shift in how young people invest - is altering the housing market 18:47

    Entertainment:
    Noel Gallagher's daughter Anais is convinced her dad has a secret stash of fashion gems and she's determined to "find it and raid it" 18:40

    Business:
    Signs the brain drain could be slowing 18:37

    Motorsports:
    Adjustments to make for Hayden Paddon as he's welcomed back into the World Rally Championship 18:37

    International:
    The 'Golden Dome' and why Trump wants the defence system in Greenland 18:17

    Entertainment:
    Kevin O'Leary wants to be a James Bond villain 18:10

    Politics:
    An admission this year's election will be down to the wire 18:07


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2026 New Zealand City Ltd