Michael Cheika expressed his frustration following Leicester’s narrow defeat to Bath in the Rugby Championship final, held at Twickenham. The former Wallabies coach had anticipated leaving the club with a trophy but instead faced disappointment after a 23-21 loss.
A critical moment in the match that infuriated Cheika came late in the second half when prop Dan Cole received a yellow card for a late tackle on Finn Russell. This penalty proved pivotal, as Leicester could not recover despite Emeka Ilione’s late try. Cheika voiced his displeasure regarding the officiating, highlighting his belief that Leicester’s performance warranted better treatment from the referee, particularly given they scored more tries than Bath.
“I’m extremely proud of the players,” he remarked, lamenting the two yellow cards that severely hampered their chances. Cheika described the second card as “embarrassing for the game,” questioning the appropriateness of such penalties. He acknowledged his anger but decided to focus on accepting the outcome rather than dwelling on the decisions made by the officials.
The match marked a bittersweet conclusion for both Cheika and Cole, whose distinguished careers with Leicester came to an end. Cole, visibly emotional post-match, shared this farewell with fellow long-serving teammate Ben Youngs. Despite the loss, Leicester maintains its status as the most successful club in English rugby history with 11 titles, while Bath celebrated their seventh championship, moving into second for the most won.