The Australian Rugby Union has today announced the re-signing of national Coach Michael Cheika through to the end of 2019. The Wallabies mentor will set his sights on going one better at the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan, after agreeing to a two-year contract extension 18 months before his current contract was due to expire. In his first full year at the helm in 2015 after taking over as Qantas Wallabies Coach for the 2014 Spring Tour, Cheika was named World Rugby Coach of the Year after leading the Wallabies to the Rugby World Cup Final and a maiden Rugby Championship title. “We could not be more delighted to have secured Michael’s services as national Coach until at least the end of the Rugby World Cup in Japan in 2019," ARU CEO Bill Pulver said. “Obviously his record as Qantas Wallabies Coach over the past 18 months speaks for itself, but it’s the wonderful culture and a renewed pride in the gold jersey that Michael has instilled in the team which has laid the foundation