Michael Cheika, right, could be targeted by England as they search for a head coach.

There are reports in Australia suggesting that England are after Wallabies head coach Michael Cheika as the man to replace Stuart Lancaster.

Cheika's contract expires at the end of 2017 and the RFU are chasing a new head coach to guide England to the next Rugby World Cup in Japan, after they crashed out of this year's tournament as hosts in the pool stages.

The Wallabies coach beat Steve Hansen to win World Rugby's coach of the year award for transforming the fortunes of the Australian team - guiding them all the way to the World Cup final, which they lost 34-17 to the All Blacks.

The Australian reports that RFU president and former England prop Jason Leonard has declared England's interest in installing Cheika as their new head coach.

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'.

England are the wealthiest union in world rugby and they could potentially make a lucrative offer to prise Cheika away from Australian rugby's top job, but he is also reportedly due to shortly extend his contract to 2019 with he ARU shortly.

Cheika will return to London later this month to coach the Barbarians in their test match against Argentina at Twickenham on November 22.

England are also set to play the Wallabies in a three-match test series in Australia next June.