Who was the coach of the Australian National Rugby team in 2017?

Who was the coach of the Australian national rugby team in 2017? Michael Cheika was the coach of Australia’s national rugby union team, commonly called the Wallabies, in 2017.

Cheika became Australia’s head coach in October 2014 after Ewen McKenzie resigned. His tenure included the 2015 Rugby World Cup, where Australia reached the final before losing to New Zealand. Cheika was named World Rugby Coach of the Year in 2015 after also guiding Australia to the Rugby Championship title.

The 2017 season was a demanding one. Australia opened with a win over Fiji, then lost to Scotland in Sydney and defeated Italy. In the Rugby Championship, the Wallabies faced heavy defeats by New Zealand but also recorded wins over Argentina and South Africa. Cheika remained in charge through the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

The wording can cause confusion because “Australian national rugby team” may refer to rugby league or rugby union. Cheika coached Australia in rugby union; the team’s nickname, the Wallabies, makes the intended sport clear in this context.