Cheika: Beale not lost to Wallabies
Cheika not only slammed Wasps for the way they handled their announcement of signing the Waratahs and Wallaby utility back, Beale, but he also pointed out to the English Premiership outfit that he will always have first dip on the player's services.
Beale signed a deal with Wasps worth more than £700,000 annually (AU$1.38-million), making him the highest-earning player in English Premiership history – eclipsing the £500,000 (AU$990,000) paid by Bath last season to Rugby League convert Sam Burgess.
Cheika, speaking to the media after it was revealed that he had agreed a two-year contract extension that will take him through to the 2019 World Cup – said he had been kept in the loop by Beale.
However, he claimed Wasps has been putting undue pressure on the 27-year-old Beale not to continue his Wallabies career.
"Kurtley had been speaking with me regularly and that's a real credit to him because he was very honest," Cheika said on Rugby360.
"We've always had a very honest relationship.
"I think the last little bit there. I wasn't that keen that they dropped that press release without telling Kurtley.
"He would've been down that he wouldn't have had a chance to talk to [Waratahs coach] Daryl [Gibson], he hadn't had a chance to talk to me.
"I know they've been putting a lot of pressure on him not to play Test footy either, which is happening more with the English clubs now. A lot of our players are signing over there. So that's a lot of pressure for a young bloke to take."
Cheika is one of the highest profile names in the sport after guiding Australia to the 2015 World Cup Final and being named World Rugby Coach of the Year.
His contract was due to expire next year and he has opted for an early extension, which Australian Rugby Union chief Bill Pulver said he was thrilled about.
"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," he said.
"Obviously his record as 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 for continued success."
Cheika boasted an impressive club coaching record before taking the Australia job, having won the European Cup with Irish province Leinster and the southern hemisphere Super Rugby title with the New South Wales Waratahs.
He said his time as national coach had been an honour and it was a privilege to stay in the role until the next World Cup.
"I never imagined I would be in the position of coaching Australia and feel extremely honoured to have the opportunity to continue on for the next period though to the end of the 2019 World Cup in Japan," he said.
The 49-year-old added that he saw his job as ensuring that every game the Wallabies play "fills the nation with pride".
"It is a privilege to be associated with the people involved with our national team and playing my part in establishing the Wallabies identity for the years to come and for many years after that," he said.
Cheika assumed the national coaching job after the shock walkout of Ewen McKenzie in October 2014 following intense speculation over player discontent and his private life.
Cheika is the only coach to have won the major competition in each hemisphere, winning a Super Rugby championship with the Waratahs in 2014 and the European Cup with Irish province Leinster in 2009.
Born and raised in Coogee, New South Wales, the former No.8 played 286 matches for Randwick and represented his country at Under-21 level as a player.
Prior to his appointment as Wallaby coach in 2014, Cheika had successful coaching stints with the Waratahs (2013-2015), Stade Francais (2010-2012), Leinster (2005-2010), Randwick (2001-2005) and Padova (1999-2000).
