Michael Cheika has called for Rugby Australia to abandon Super Rugby and focus on the domestic game, saying a lack of strategy is killing rugby in the country.

Speaking on The Roar Rugby podcast, Cheika urged RA to prioritise local competitions like the AFL and NRL, stating, “It’s absolutely imperative not to give up on the game at home.”

Cheika, who joined English club Leicester Tigers as director of rugby in June, believes rugby in Australia needs a solid foundation before decisions on overseas player selections are made.

He emphasised the importance of fostering local growth, warning that if the game at home struggles, picking players from abroad won’t fix the bigger issues.

“I feel like it’s absolutely imperative not to give up on the game at home,” Cheika said. “That’s where the growth of the game should be.

“Then from there, you can make your decisions around picking players from everywhere.

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“Until they sort out what they want to do eventually with the domestic game, it’s hard to make that decision, mate, because if I do let players go overseas and then pick them all for Australia, the game at home will struggle a lot.

“I’m not sure if there’s a strategy around where the domestic game or what the future looks like for rugby in Australia.”

A European Cup and Celtic League winner with Leinster and Super Rugby winner with the Waratahs, Cheika has also coached at three Rugby World Cups – Argentina in 2023 and reaching the final with Australia in 2015 and quarter-finals in 2019 – as well as one Rugby League World Cup with Lebanon.

He pointed to Australia’s success at the 2015 World Cup, which didn’t uplift rugby in the country, proving that a strong Wallabies side isn’t enough.

“Even after we made the final of the 2015 World Cup, that didn’t really change anything in the way the game was in Australia itself,” Cheika noted. He believes the future of Australian rugby depends on rethinking domestic competition before anything else.

Photo: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

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