Leinster announce new coaching set up

Michael Cheika, 38, has enormous experience in both the business and sporting world. Michael has Heineken Cup coaching experience with Italian side Padova in 1999/2000. He captained Randwick from 1997-'99 whom he also later coached, alongside Knox, to Premiership success in 2003/'04.

He played for the Australian Under-21 side, New South Wales, Castres Olympique and C.A.S.G. Paris in the French league and Italian side Rugby Livorno where he played alongside David. They then moved to Randwick Rugby Club and resurrected the Sydney club by winning two Cup finals under their rule.

A former back-row forward, Michael won seven Premiership titles with Randwick in a playing career that spanned from 1985-'99. He has the sixth highest number of appearances (212 First Class and over 300 games in total) of all time in the Australian domestic club game.

Michael Cheika said: "This is a fantastic opportunity to come to Leinster at this stage in my career. The class level of player is high here and to implement the type of game plan that I will look to introduce you need top quality players. I'm looking forward to competing again in the Heineken Cup. I have some experience of what to expect from my time in Italy. We were minnows in a group that included Bath, Swansea and Toulouse so it was a tough test, but exciting. It is important that we are successful in the Celtic League and it's important to combine both competitions so that we can strive for consistency.

"David (Knox) will bring a lot of innovation and a new way of looking at back play to Leinster. He will help us to evolve a 15-man game and I'm looking forward to this exciting opportunity."

David Knox, 41, was capped 13 times for Australia and was a member of the Australian 1991 World Cup winning squad. He also featured in eight Premiership winning teams with Randwick.

David also played with Petrarca Padova ('86-'89) where he won the 1987 National Championship, Livorno Rugby ('90-'92), Bristol Rugby Club ('98) and Racing Club, Narbonne ('99). He played for the ACT Brumbies, where he subsequently held the position of assistant backs coach, in the Super 12 from '96-'98 including the '97 Super 12 Final against the Auckland Blues. He also played in the Currie Cup with the Natal Sharks in 1997-'98.

He has also held coaching positions with Padova (2000), Waverley College (2002-'03), South Sydney Rugby League (2003) and Randwick since 2003. David has accrued in total 130 points for the Wallabies, approximately 600 points at provincial level (New South Wales, ACT Brumbies & Natal Sharks) and a club record 2,900 points with Randwick.

David Knox added: "I was brought up watching exciting open rugby and I'm looking forward to working with what is an extremely talented group of players. We'll be looking to play a 15-man game and with four British & Irish Lions in the backline - including the captain - it's a squad that excites me. It wasn't a difficult decision to move here. I always wanted to live in Dublin having played here before and I'm looking forward to this opportunity."

Leinster Chief Executive Mick Dawson said: "I am delighted to welcome both Michael and David to Leinster. They are one of the most exciting coaching partnerships in Australian rugby and we're delighted to have secured their services. I would like to take this opportunity to wish them well with the province."