New Tigers coach opens up on wild start to job with shock axing of boss

Peter Hewat’s start at Leicester Tigers has been unusual, as the team has yet to play a match with him serving as their attack coach. The Australian, a former London Irish fullback, was recruited in June, reuniting him with his former Brumbies boss, Dan McKellar. However, just over a week later, McKellar was sacked.

Michael Cheika, another Australian, was soon named head coach, marking a turbulent beginning to Hewat’s time with the Tigers. Despite the upheaval, Hewat recently stated that he and his colleagues remain “laser-focused.”

“There’s no denying that Michael’s arrival brought a significant change, but my focus has always been on contributing to something special with this group. From top to bottom, I see that the entire organization is just as committed,” Hewat said.

Leicester will begin their Gallagher Premiership season against Exeter Chiefs on September 21, with preseason matches against Nottingham and the Scarlets giving the new coaching team a chance to implement their strategies.

Hewat expects the Tigers to improve as the season progresses and the coaching team bonds with the players and with each other, but he emphasizes the importance of certain fundamentals.

“Michael and I have spent a lot of time with the players, having open discussions about what we need to improve in our attack and how to achieve that,” he said. “We’ve broken things down into individual components and are seeing the progress we want week by week.

“On the rugby field, it’s about each player owning their role in the team effort, and that takes time. We will grow and develop throughout the season, but there are also non-negotiables—doing the basics, being physical, and doing what it takes to get the job done, especially in the early stages.”

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