Eddie Jones has teased that he will be in a new job “very shortly” following his abrupt departure as Wallabies head coach.
The 63-year-old signed a five-year contract with Rugby Australia in January, which took him to the end of the 2027 Rugby World Cup, but his tenure only lasted nine months.
Jones presided over a disastrous stint in charge, which culminated in Australia’s first-ever pool stage exit at a global tournament.
Despite insisting he was committed to the role, Jones and the governing body hastily negotiated his exit, which was officially confirmed two days after the World Cup final.
The former England head honcho was asked following the Barbarians’ game against Wales whether he would return to coaching, perhaps at a national team, and he responded: “A hundred per cent, hundred per cent … very shortly, very shortly.”
Japan job
Jones has been heavily linked with a return to Japan after the Sydney Morning Herald alleged that he held a Zoom job interview before the 2023 World Cup.
According to reports, he is set for a second interview, this time face-to-face, with Japanese officials later this month.
However, the 63-year-old has consistently denied having any contact with the Japan Rugby Football Union.
Jones ended a turbulent couple of weeks by overseeing the Baabaas’ encounter with the Welsh at the Principality Stadium on Saturday.
Rather ironically, it was a side which featured 10 Wallabies as they went down 49-26 to Warren Gatland’s men.
It wasn’t, according to the ex-Australia boss, a bittersweet feeling working with those players potentially for a final time.
“No, it’s a different thing, different role, different relationship, but you just want to see them do well,” he said.
Wallabies’ future
Jones’ departure from his role as Australia’s boss means that he will miss out on coaching them against the British and Irish Lions in 2025.
On current form, the tourists would be expected to secure a comfortable series victory, but their former head coach expects them to be in better shape in two years’ time.
“It’ll be huge, be huge. Australia’s a proud sporting nation, and when they’re not doing well, everything’s bad. Not dissimilar to England,” he added.
“But a little bit of success and it’ll go up – and the Lions is a huge series. Because it’s like ‘Home and Away’, isn’t it? A little soap opera in its own right.”
Source : Planet Rugby
