Michael Cheika and Rugby Australia chief executive Raelene Castle were reportedly involved in a heated argument in Tokyo during the World Cup.
The Sydney Morning Herald reports that the deteriorating relationship between the ex-Wallabies coach and Castle hit a new low during a function at the Australian embassy in Tokyo.
According to the report, the two clashed over Castle insisting players from the Wallabies World Cup squad follow through on an obligation and attend the function on 25 September, four days before Australia’s crucial Pool D clash with Wales.
Castle offered a compromise that only four players could attend the function but after Cheika refused, Castle went over his head and got director of rugby Scott Johnson to escort players to the function.
Despite having a late change of mind to allow the players to attend, Cheika was reportedly angry that Castle and Johnson had not consulted him. The incident came to a head when Castle approached Cheika after the function to thank him for showing up. Cheika took offence and the two started arguing and had to be stopped by former Wallaby Morgan Turinui, who was attending.
Cheika resigned as Wallabies coach following their World Cup exit in the quarter-finals to England. After announcing his resignation, he revealed that his working relationship with Castle was non-existent.
He has since been linked with a move to Montpellier, with a view to potentially becoming the French giant’s director of rugby.
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