Rugby Australia chief Raelene Castle hits back at Michael Cheika: 'It has been a very challenging time'

Parting shot: Michael Cheika took a swipe at Rugby Australia after stepping down as head coach

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Will Macpherson21 October 2019

Rugby Australia chief Raelene Castle hit back at coach Michael Cheika after he resigned on Sunday, calling the Wallabies’ World Cup campaign “incredibly disappointing”.

Australia were bundled out in the quarter-finals by England on Saturday - their earliest World Cup exit since 2007.

Cheika resigned on Sunday with a swipe at Castle.

“It’s no secret I have no relationship with the CEO and not much with the chairman [Cameron Clyne],” he said.

Castle defended the decision to stick with Cheika until the World Cup and bring in Scott Johnson to work alongside him.

“I don’t think anyone would think that we have been satisfied with the results,” she said. “It has been a very challenging time.”

Dave Rennie, the New Zealander in charge of Glasgow Warriors since 2017, is set to be the replacement for Cheika, who was in charge for five years and guided Australia to the 2015 World Cup Final.