England could be pursuing Michael Cheika as their next head coach, according to overnight reports in Australia.
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It is also understood the RFU chief executive, Ian Ritchie, has not authorised Leonard to approach anyone and that the review into England’s World Cup under-achievement – with the future of the current coach Stuart Lancaster still up in the air – remains ongoing.
Cheika was appointed Australia coach in October 2014.
However, an RFU spokesman rejected the reports, insisting: “There has been no contact”.
England’s RFU is holding a post mortem into the nation’s disastrous World Cup where it became the first host nation to fail to make the quarter finals.
The ARU is reportedly set to begin negotiations with Cheika about extending his contract to beyond the next World Cup.
Australia lost out to New Zealand 34-17 in the World Cup final, with Cheika afterwards suggesting he still wants to carry the Wallabies forward in the future.
Cheika’s Wallabies were the side that ended England’s World Cup hopes when they hammered them 33-13 at Twickenham in their third match of the “Pool of Death”.
Cheika, the former Leinster and Stade Francais coach, is coincidentally due in London that week to coach the Barbarians against Argentina at Twickenham on November 21.
“I’m in to 2017 and for me it’s irrelevant whether I’m on to 2019 or 2017, or 2016”, Cheika said.
The RFU is continuing to keep its counsel however, while its review continues.
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The RFU was forced to deny approaching Nick Mallett during the week before England’s final World Cup game against Uruguay following reports from South Africa that the former Springbok head coach had turned down an offer to replace Lancaster.
