2013 Super Rugby Media Guide - SuperSport

2013 SUPER RUGBY MEDIA GUIDEwaratahsMichael Cheika – Head CoachBorn: 04.03.67, Sydney NSWWaratahs Coaching Debut: 2013Other Coaching Roles: Petrarca Rugby Padova(coach, 2000), Randwick (head coach secondgrade 2002, first grade 2003-2005), Leinster(head coach, 2005-2010), Stade Francais(head coach, 2011-2012)An Australian U21 and NSW representative, former Randwick No.8Michael Cheika made 212 first grade appearances for the club,winning seven Premiership titles in his 14-year playing career,before adding another title, this time as coach, in 2004. In May2005, Cheika replaced Declan Kidney as Head Coach of Leinster,where he stayed for five years, leading the Province to a first everHeineken Cup Victory. He took over as the NSW Waratahs headcoach in October 2012 on a three‐year contract and has alreadyinstilled a hard work ethic and clear team identity that he hopes willbecome the foundations of future success.Alan Gaffney – Assistant CoachBorn: 16.12.46, Sydney NSWWaratahs Coaching Debut: 1997Other Coaching Roles: Randwick(coach, 1984‐1996), HSBC Waratahs(assistant coach, 1997-1999), Leinster(backs coach, 2000‐2002), Munster(head coach, 2002-2005), Australia(assistant coach, 2005-2006); Saracens(director of rugby, 2006-2008), Leinster(technical consultant, 2008-2010), Ireland(backs coach, 2008-2011)The 2013 season will be Alan Gaffney’s second consecutive seasonwith the HSBC Waratahs and fourth year in total. Well known to newhead coach Michael Cheika, Gaffney served as his assistant duringhis second stint at Leinster, when the pair guided the Irish Provinceto Heineken Cup victory. A life member of Randwick Rugby Clubin Sydney, Gaffney coached them for more than a decade, whilstalso holding various roles including coach of the NSW Under 21sand assistant coach of the Waratahs. A highly accomplished andformer Celtic League, Celtic Cup, Heineken Cup, Six Nations andGrand Slam-winning coach, Gaffney has also served with both theWallabies and Ireland, whom he worked with through to RWC 2011.62