Eddie Jones expected to quit Wallabies and confirm his return to Japan
Eddie Jones is expected to be named as Japan’s next head coach after his Australia side failed to progress from the pool stages of the Rugby World Cup for the first time.
According to a story in Sponichi, the Japanese sports newspaper, Jones is poised to return as Jamie Joseph’s successor in the vacant head coach role. Japan also failed to progress to the quarter-finals of this year’s showpiece in France.
Eddie Jones, who has a Japanese mother, has had a long association with the country. Getty
The Sydney Morning Herald reported last month how Jones, who is under contract with Rugby Australia until the end of their home World Cup in 2027, had secretly interviewed with the Japan Rugby Football Union by video call before the start of the World Cup, just days before the Wallabies’ final warm-up fixture against the hosts, France.
The 63-year-old, who has been heavily criticised for Australia’s World Cup performance, has denied that an interview even took place and repeatedly poured cold water on reports linking him with the Japan job.
But Sponichi says: “This spring, Masato Tsuchida, president of the Japan RFU, with whom he [Jones] has had a honeymoon relationship since his days at Suntory, contacted him.
“Contract negotiations have been held privately behind the scenes and preparations are under way for his first return since the 2015 World Cup, at which he led [Japan] to a historic three wins.”
Telegraph Sport understands from sources with knowledge of discussions that Jones was due at the JRFU headquarters originally on Sunday, November 5 to interview for the role for a second time, but this was postponed due to his involvement with the Barbarians’ fixture against Wales in Cardiff a day earlier. The Australian was
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