Rugby: Cheika's contract negotiations stalled - reports

Michael Cheika's contract negotiations with the Australian Rugby Union have continued to stall, according to reports. Photo / Getty Images.

Michael Cheika's contract negotiations with the Australian Rugby Union have continued to stall, according to reports.

ESPN reported on Friday that the in demand Wallabies coach, who took Australia within a whisker of winning last year's World Cup, has threatened to resign from his position if his contract negotiations are not resolved by the end of next week.

Cheika, who is contracted with the ARU until the end of 2017, is reported to have grown increasingly frustrated by the drawn out process over a contract extension.

It's understood Cheika is wanting an offer which will see him guide the Wallabies through to at least the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

The report said that Cheika has given the ARU until March 11 to provide him with a new four-year contract or else "drastic action" would be taken.

It was only two weeks ago that Cheika told reporters at the Super Rugby launch in Western Sydney that he wasn't concerned with how negotiations were taking place and said that results would determine the outcome.

"I don't think it's been front and centre of discussions," Cheika said, "like they've talked to me about it."

"And at the end of the day yeah I want to stay on.

"I'm into signing on, and all of that and I hope I will, but at the end of the day it comes down to how good you do, how well you do.

"I know that even if I don't sign a contract and I do well then I'm hopefully get offered another one, and if I don't and I've got a contract then what am I going to do, fight to start in it?

"At the end of the day it's paperwork really. It's just about getting the right things happening.

"They've spoken to me and given me some idea of what they'd like and it looks pretty good to me, but it's not been at the front of my attention."

ARU boss Bill Pulver said in December that he was pleased with the performances of the Wallabies and the change in culture that had taken place under Cheika as coach, and intended on extending Cheika's contract.

"I make no secret of the fact that I'd like to add another couple of years to that and he's made no secret of the fact that he'd like to add another couple of years to that," he said.
"So that's a discussion we will have."

- news.com.au