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Dan McKellar addresses speculation that he could succeed Eddie Jones
By Liam Heagney
Former Wallabies assistant Dan McKellar has responded to speculation that he could be the next coach of Australia after the resignation of Eddie Jones.
That 47-year-old ex-Brumbies boss had been part of the previous regime under Dave Rennie when Jones was appointed last January and the following month he was announced as the new Leicester Tigers head coach on a three-year deal, starting with the 2023/24 season.
Now, just three matches into his first Gallagher Premiership campaign, McKellar has been linked with a return to Australia after it was confirmed last weekend that Jones was quitting and wouldn’t be continuing in the role he was contracted for through to the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
There have since been headlines that McKellar should be the coach to fill the sudden vacancy, with Stephen Larkham, Michael Cheika and Andy Friend also mentioned as other possible contenders.
McKellar, though, has dismissed the media speculation, insisting he is happy with his new life in England and that his sole focus is trying to win away at Saracens on Saturday.
Speaking with Adam Whitty on the latest Leicester Tigers Rugby Show podcast on BBC Radio Leicester, the Australian explained: “One thing I can’t control is media speculation and that’s what it is, it’s media speculation.
“Newspapers and websites put stories in place for people to read and that’s completely out of my control. I have moved my family here, we’re very happy here. Girls are at school, loving life in the Midlands and that is all I am focusing on.”
It was last season when Leicester saw their management ticket broken up mid-season with Steve Borthwick and Kevin Sinfield joining England, a move that was also made at the end of the season by Richard Wigglesworth and Aled Walters.
That recent upheaval has left some Leicester fans worried that they could again soon be looking for another head coach, but McKellar insisted: “100 per cent I’m staying.
"As I said, there are things I can control and certainly media speculation about who replaces Eddie Jones as Wallabies coach is not in my control. I’ll focus on beating Saracens at Saracens on Saturday.”
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Latest Comments
Agreed. As a Saffa I have much respect for the ABs. I also have to say given any option I would ONLY prefer to lose to ABs. To lose to England is probably the most embarrassing think to happen to either of us.
There was a time when both of us lost to England and we both hated it. Thankfully those days are behind us. Kudos to you guys, kudos to ABs. But dear old BS seems to hate us Boks. No idea why.
Go to commentsI got the sense that holding him to it was kickback from SB and the rfu smarting at being jilted quite so soon, so unexpectedly and so publicly.
Seem to remember that they spoke to Gustard before appointing Joe and you really have to think he would have come in at a higher level?
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