Wallabies coach Eddie Jones denies reports linking him to Japan switch

Eddie Jones says he’s committed to Australia and has only one regret following the Wallabies’ disastrous Rugby World Cup campaign.

Wallabies head coach Eddie Jones speaks to the media during a Rugby Australia press conference at Coogee Oval. Picture: Getty Images

Eddie Jones has again denied talking to Japanese rugby about taking over the head coaching role, saying he has no idea where the multiple reports have come from.

“I haven’t been speaking to anyone,” Wallabies coach Jones told a large media contingent at Coogee Oval on Tuesday morning.

Jones was asked in a multitude of ways if he’d been talking to third parties on behalf of Japanese rugby, the president, or anyone else affiliated with them and denied he had.

This masthead’s sources say he has held talks with Japan about the head coaching role now vacated by Jamie Joseph.

It’s understood Jones, Tony Brown and Frans Ludeke are the top three candidates in line for the job, to be announced in late November.

Jones is contracted with Rugby Australia until the end of 2027 and said while he is committed to see out his term, the decision to stay is not up to him as an independent report into the failed World Cup campaign will soon begin.

“That’s out of my control,” Jones said about the review and whether he would survive.

Wallabies coach Eddie Jones addressed a large media contingent at Coogee Oval. Picture: Getty Images

Jones said he felt the pain of Wallabies fans as the team slumped out of the pool stages for the first time.

“Yeah, look — we feel their hurt. We feel all the supporters’ hurt,” he said.

“And we really appreciate the great support we had in France and back in

Australia for the team. And we feel their hurt.

“But, as I said, sometimes the change you have to have is uncomfortable, and it is quite difficult. And sometimes you have to go through this to get into a better state. And I believe the problems we’ve had — particularly at the national team — will put us in a better state going forward.”

Asked if he regretted returning to Australia, Jones said: “No, not at all. The only thing I regret is probably telling the press to give themselves an uppercut.”

As for the state of Australian rugby, Jones remained optimistic.

“I don’t think it’s dying, mate. But I think we’re in a difficult situation,” Jones said.

“If I look at when I left to now — like, the difference between the NRL and the AFL to where I was is massive, you know? And that’s definitely affected our talent pool. Definitely. So we’ve got to work harder at those areas. And that’s what I mean — we’ve got to get aligned. We’ve not only got to fix things at the top level, but got to fix things at the talent identification, recruitment, development level. We’ve got to get more players into the game, better players into the game. And at the moment, NRL is stealing them all.”

Wallabies coach Eddie Jones has no regrets about returning to Australia. Picture: Getty Images

Jones said while the Wallabies failed at this World Cup, the bulk of players would form a strong team for the 2027 campaign in Australia.

“I think most of them showed during the World Cup that they have enough to really go forward and be very good players for Australia, we throw in a few other players from around the place and we have a nucleus of a really good team,” he said.

“That is the most positive thing. Sometimes, when you have changed, everyone hates change because it is uncomfortable. Everyone likes the status quo. And we had the courage, whether it be the right courage, to make the choice that we would go with a younger squad and I think the young squad will stand Australia in good stead.”

Originally published as Wallabies coach Eddie Jones denies reports linking him to Japan switch