Perese takes long road to Cheika reunion at Tigers

Izaia Perese greeted a acquainted look erstwhile Michael Cheika first arrived astatine Leicester Tigers.

The 27-year-old extracurricular centre was signed successful March by Dan McKellar but he was sacked arsenic caput coach and replaced pinch Cheika, nan erstwhile Australia coach, successful June.

It brought an unexpected reunion, 8 years aft nan brace first met erstwhile Cheika coached nan Wallabies.

"He picked maine up arsenic a young fella arsenic an apprentice and took maine connected a outpouring circuit tour successful 2016," Perese told BBC Radio Leicester's Leicester Tigers Rugby Show.

"I didn’t play but it was still specified a awesome time.

"We saw each different for nan first clip astatine Tigers and said, ‘What are nan odds?’ Then we had a bully drawback up aft that."

The roadworthy to that reunion has been a winding 1 for Perese.

Having begun his profession pinch Queensland Reds, he near successful 2019 to move codes and subordinate Brisbane Broncos successful nan NRL. But he played only doubly earlier his statement was terminated aft he was charged pinch narcotics offences.

He pleaded blameworthy and was sentenced to an 18-month supervision bid and 100 hours of organization work by a Brisbane court.

Perese returned to national but struggled successful a short stint astatine Bayonne successful France earlier nan Sydney-based Waratahs brought him backmost to Australia and revived his career.

He was fixed a Wallabies debut by Dave Rennie successful 2021 earlier being named successful Eddie Jones' squad for nan 2023 World Cup.

He and Cheika will now dream to revive Leicester, having vanished 8th past season, 2 years aft nan Tigers became champions for nan 11th time.

"He comes successful and there’s an aura astir him. His credentials speak for themselves," said Perese.

"We’ve sewage unlimited expectations present and we want to turn connected what this nine stands on.

"It’s breathtaking because he has nan barroom truthful precocious for what we want to correspond arsenic a footy squad and he’s truthful bully astatine bringing a group together."

Having swapped New South Wales for nan East Midlands, Perese hopes he tin adhd immoderate punch to nan Leicester midfield.

His 5ft 8in and 14st 7lb framework should beryllium seen successful nan Premiership for nan first clip connected 21 September astatine Exeter Chiefs, erstwhile their caller play begins.

"The biggest point is nan physicality I’ll bring," Perese said.

"I’m only a small assemblage but that astir apt makes maine want to beryllium a spot much beingness and astonishment group a small bit."