Liebenberg hopes Cheika's successor brings Tigers stability

Michael Cheika returned to club rugby for the first time in a decade when he took the Leicester job

Leicester Tigers back-rower Hanro Liebenberg hopes Michael Cheika's replacement as head coach can bring long-term stability to the role.

Former Australia and Argentina head coach Cheika is in the final months of his contract as Tigers boss, having decided in January not to extend his stay beyond his initial one-year deal.

The 58-year-old replaced fellow Australian Dan McKellar, who lasted only a season in a role which has been occupied by Steve Borthwick, Richard Wigglesworth, Geordan Murphy, Matt O'Connor and Aaron Mauger since three-time Premiership title-winning boss Richard Cockerill was sacked in early 2017.

Cheika's successor will be the sixth boss Liebenberg will have worked under since he first arrived at Tigers in 2019.

"I've gotten use to all the change and new people coming and out," the South African told BBC Radio Leicester.

"It's always a bit of an unsettling phase and you don't know what's going to happen because it's uncertain.

"But, at the same time, this club has been through this in the past years. We have gotten so used to it that I'm sure we will adapt and move on."

Ex-Tigers player and former Harlequins head of rugby Paul Gustard is reportedly in line for the job, although ex-England boss Stuart Lancaster and celebrated former Leicester prop and ex-Munster head coach Graham Rowntree have also been linked.

With Tigers fourth in the Premiership table with seven matches remaining, and in the last 16 of the European Champions Cup, Cheika has the chance to emulate Borthwick in achieving success with Tigers despite his short stay.

Borthwick transformed Tigers from a side battling relegation in 2020 into Premiership winners within two years before he was recruited as England head coach in December 2022.

Ahead of Tigers' return to Premiership action at Northampton on Friday, Cheika said his impending departure will not fuel his desire to succeed but would make him work harder for it.

Liebenberg echoed the sentiment saying the "goal is to finish strong" this season.

And while Leicester are in contention for silverware now, Liebenberg says there is a wish to build sustained success.

When asked if players want the next boss to be someone they can work with for years, he replied: "100%, that is something that us as players are definitely looking for - just some stability.

"Some stability in the way we want to play, some stability in the management and the people.

"Just getting comfortable with one another so we can build those connections and build that that partnership that might not bear fruit in a year or two, but in three or four - you can build something on that."