Hamish McLennan weighs in on Eddie Jones, Rugby Australia future after Wallabies’ World Cup debacle

Hamish McLennan reveals what he knows about Eddie Jones being offered a job with Japan plus his own future at Rugby Australia following the Wallabies World Cup debacle.

Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan. Picture: AFP

Rugby Australia boss Hamish McLennan has been abused by irate Australian rugby supporters in France demanding blood after the Wallabies’ humiliating World Cup losses to Fiji and Wales.

While head coach Eddie Jones has been the main target of criticism after the Wallabies crashed to a record 40-6 defeat, McLennan has also come under fire, with former Australian coach Alan Jones calling on him to quit as Rugby Australia chairman.

McLennan told this masthead he shares some of the responsibility for the Wallabies’ dismal performances at the World Cup but has no intention of standing down because he is busy planning a bright future for the game.

“I feel very accountable,” he said.

Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan has come under fire in the wake of the Wallabies’ disastrous World Cup. Picture: Adam Yip

“In fact it’s one of the worst days in my professional life but we must seize the opportunity to fix the system once and for all.

“The pathway is clear if the rugby community wants to get behind it. I need everyone’s help.

“I’m not inclined to (quit) as we have some significant opportunities we are close to landing and I want to maximise the opportunities with the men’s and women’s World Cup in ‘27 and ‘29,” he said.

“These events will transform rugby and give us the necessary runway to fix the game.”

In a wide-ranging interview addressing the key issues after the Wallabies’ loss, McLennan said he knew Jones had been offered a job with Japan but his understanding was that he had turned it down.

“I understand Eddie has a standing offer from Japan and they respect his many outstanding coaching achievements,” McLennan said.

“I accept his word to (CEO) Phil Waugh there is nothing in it. His agent also said the same thing to me.”

Hamish McLennan says he accepts Eddie Jones’ word that there is nothing in reports about being offered a job with Japan. Picture: Tim Hunter.

McLennan also said he stood by the systemic changes both he and Jones were trying to implement to get Australian rugby back to its former glory days.

“I don’t really like talking about myself but I’m committed to the turnaround and never thought it would be easy,” he said.

“We’ve built a very strong board and have a terrific new CEO.

“We’ve got a centralisation plan which has proven to work around the world.

“I played a reasonable part in securing the World Cups for Australia for ‘27 and ‘29. I also stood up to the Kiwis when they tried to screw us. My fear of failure will make me work twice as hard to fix it.”

An experienced media and marketing industry executive, McLennan took over as Rugby Australia chair in May 2020. He does it for nothing, donating his salary to women’s and Indigenous rugby.

He has helped steer the organisation from the brink of insolvency, but his most daring — and controversial — decisions were firing Dave Rennie as national coach last year and replacing him with Eddie Jones.

Hiring Eddie Jones was one of Hamish McLennan’s most controversial decisions. Picture: Getty Images

It was a risky move but one both men agreed was in the best long interests of Australian rugby.

But not everyone agrees, especially after the Wallabies bombed out at the World Cup.

In the wake of the Wallabies back to back losses against Fiji and Wales at the World Cup, McLennan has been heckled by angry supporters in France who are demanding he fall on his sword after Alan Jones called for his resignation.

“I know Alan. He’s a complicated man but entitled to his opinion,” McLennan said.

“There are no absolute guarantees in life but I have some history of turning organisations around when the going gets tough.

“I’m not one to abandon the ship when you hit choppy waters.”

Originally published as Hamish McLennan weighs in on Eddie Jones, Rugby Australia future after Wallabies’ World Cup debacle