After taking over from Dave Rennie earlier this year, Eddie Jones has announced his resignation as the head coach of Australia’s national rugby team, the Wallabies.
For the first time in Rugby World Cup history, Australia was eliminated in the pool stage, signaling a low point for the team. Jones, who resumed his leadership role for a second term in January, will officially part ways with the Wallabies on November 25th.
Rugby Australia expressed gratitude for the 63-year-old’s service in 2023 and wished him all the best in his future endeavors. The organization also indicated that an announcement about the future of the coaching staff would be shared “when the time is right.”
The Wallabies’ World Cup Woes
Before assuming his role with Australia, Jones was let go by the English national team just a month prior. His contract with Australia was set to last until 2027—the year the country is slated to host the next Rugby World Cup.
During the 2023 tournament, Jones shrugged off rumors that he might return to coaching Japan. Despite previous coaching stints with the Japanese team from 2012 to 2015, Jones firmly denied these claims, stating he was fully committed to the Wallabies.
The rumors seemed to originate from reports that he had been interviewed by Japan just days before Australia kicked off their World Cup endeavor. Jones, who has both a mother and wife of Japanese descent, dismissed these rumors as unfounded, insisting he had not been in contact with anyone regarding such a switch.
Despite taking both Australia and England to World Cup finals in 2003 and 2019, Jones’ teams fell short of victory each time. Speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald, Jones stated, “I gave it my best shot. Hopefully, I’ll be a catalyst for change.”
Lackluster Performance
Australia’s 2023 World Cup run was notably abysmal, as they suffered a shocking loss to Fiji and were trounced by Wales. They ended up finishing third in their pool. Since Jones’ return, they secured only two victories out of nine Tests—both against lower-ranked teams, Georgia and Portugal.
The resignation follows an independent review by Rugby Australia of the team’s lackluster World Cup performance. Rugby Australia CEO Phil Waugh will host a media conference on Tuesday to discuss the ramifications of Jones’ exit.
Hamish McLennan, Rugby Australia’s Chairman, who was instrumental in bringing Jones back for a second go-around, declared he would not be stepping down in the wake of the Wallabies’ poor World Cup outing. McLennan told the Sydney Morning Herald, “I joined rugby to fix the mess when things fall apart. Despite the unfortunate situation with Eddie, this is another obstacle we will overcome.”
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Eddie Jones Resignation
What is the main event discussed in the article?
The article focuses on the resignation of Eddie Jones as the head coach of Australia’s national rugby team, the Wallabies, following their poor performance in the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Who is Eddie Jones?
Eddie Jones is a 63-year-old rugby coach who has previously led both Australia and England to World Cup finals. He took on the role of head coach for the Wallabies for a second stint in January 2023, succeeding Dave Rennie.
When will Eddie Jones officially step down?
Eddie Jones will officially relinquish his role as head coach of the Wallabies on November 25th, 2023.
Why did Eddie Jones resign?
Jones stepped down following Australia’s disappointing performance in the 2023 Rugby World Cup. The team was eliminated in the pool stage for the first time in the tournament’s history.
What was Eddie Jones’ previous coaching experience?
Before his second term with the Wallabies, Eddie Jones had coached the English national team. He was let go a month before taking the Australian role. He had also coached Japan’s national rugby team from 2012 to 2015.
Were there rumors about Eddie Jones coaching another team during the World Cup?
Yes, there were rumors linking Jones to a return as the coach for Japan’s rugby team. However, Jones denied these rumors, stating he was fully committed to his role with the Wallabies.
What was Australia’s performance like in the 2023 Rugby World Cup?
Australia had a disappointing run, losing heavily to Wales and suffering an upset against Fiji. They finished third in their pool and won only two of their nine tests since Jones’ return, both against lower-tier nations—Georgia and Portugal.
What is the future plan for Australia’s coaching staff?
Rugby Australia has stated that they will make an announcement about the future of the coaching staff “in due course.” They have also initiated an independent review into the team’s World Cup performance.
Is anyone else stepping down from Rugby Australia?
As of now, Hamish McLennan, the Chairman of Rugby Australia, who played a key role in bringing Eddie Jones back for a second term, has stated that he will not be resigning.
What will happen next?
Rugby Australia CEO Phil Waugh is scheduled to hold a media conference on Tuesday to discuss the implications of Jones’ departure and the way forward for the Wallabies.
More about Eddie Jones Resignation
- Rugby Australia Official Statement on Eddie Jones’ Resignation
- Sydney Morning Herald Interview with Eddie Jones
- History of Australia in Rugby World Cups
- Rugby World Cup 2023 Overview
- Eddie Jones Coaching Career
- Hamish McLennan’s Statement on Rugby Australia’s Future
10 comments
Hamish McLennan is sticking around? After this mess? Interesting strategy, let’s see if it pays off.
Tough break, mates. But hey, every cloud has a silver lining. Maybe it’s time for a fresh start?
what were they thinking signing Eddie through to 2027? That’s like buying the newest smartphone and expecting it to be top-notch for the next 5 years. Tech and sports, both need regular upgrades lol.
Eddie had his time, but maybe the new gen needs a different style of coaching, y’know?
Man, this is a shocker! Eddie Jones leavin just like that? whats next for the Wallabies?
Can’t say I’m surprised. The team’s performance was really disappointing this year. Time for some new blood, maybe?
I heard the rumors about Eddie comin back to coach Japan. Guess they were all smoke and mirrors, huh.
My kids look up to these players and its sad to see role models failing to make the mark. hope Rugby Australia sorts this out soon.
Eddie’s a legend but legends falter too. Maybe this’ll be a wakeup call for Rugby Australia.
Phil Waugh better have some good answers on Tuesday. The fans deserve to know what went wrong and how they plan to fix it.