Jones in frame for shock Wallabies return

Australia’s most accomplished rugby coach Eddie Jones could return to the Wallabies ranks after he was axed by England.

Eddie Jones’ seven-year tenure as England coach ended abruptly on Tuesday night Picture: AFP

A shock return to the Wallabies’ coaching ranks is not off the cards for Eddie Jones following his axing from the England job overnight.

Following a Rugby Football Union review Jones was told his seven-year tenure as England coach was over.

“Following a review of the Autumn Nations Series, Eddie Jones has been dismissed from the position of England head coach,” said an RFU statement on Tuesday night.

While England has had a miserable run this year, its worst since 2008, the former Wallabies coach still holds the highest winning percentage (74 per cent) of any England head coach in recent history, better than his greatest critic Sir Clive Woodward.

Jones is understood to have the attention of key Australian rugby powerbrokers, who are keen to have the decorated rugby coach back in the fold and earlier this year he was being mooted as an ‘director of rugby’ heading toward the British & Irish Lions tour in 2025 and a home World Cup two years later.

In July this year, when Jones was linked with a return, current Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan said: “Eddie Jones is a great Australian coach and has made a massive contribution to the game. At the time the (Australian Rugby Union) decided not to give him a job, he’s plying his trade overseas, good on him. We should be proud of what he’s done.”

Jones told former News Corp journalist Mike Colman, the day after his appointment as England coach following Japan’s successful 2015 Rugby World Cup campaign; “I didn’t divorce Australia. Australia divorced me.”

Jones coached the Wallabies from 2001 to 2005, taking Australia to the rugby World Cup final on home soil in 2003.

It’s understood his thorough, straight forward coaching style is what Australian rugby powerbrokers are looking for as it looks to restore the fortunes of the national side that has a 38 per cent win rate under current coach Dave Rennie.

Jones has a 2007 World Cup winner’s medal from his time as an assistant with Jake White with the Springboks and runner-up medals from 2003 with the Wallabies and 2019 with England.

Jones’ Japan side executed one of the greatest upsets in rugby history when it beat South Africa in the 2015 World Cup in the match known as the ‘Miracle in Brighton’.

Previously he led the Wallabies to win the Tri-Nations and Bledisloe Cup. He took England to a Grand Slam and three Six Nations titles. In 2017 he was voted the World Rugby’s coach of the year.

Jones, 62, was contracted to take England through to next year’s Rugby World Cup in France, after which he was due set to step down.

But the often outspoken and abrasive coach’s departure was accelerated after a 2022 where England lost six out of 12 Tests, with five wins and a draw.

The year ended with a decisive 27-13 defeat by World Cup holders South Africa, usually loyal England fans jeering their team off the Twickenham pitch. Jones’ position was not helped when his longtime media advisor, David Pembroke described RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney as “slippery” while accusing the Twickenham supremo of leaking stories to the media.

There had been speculation Warren Gatland might be appointed on a short-term deal.

That ended, however, when it was announced on Monday the New Zealander would be returning for a second spell as Wales coach after a dismal run of results under his successor and compatriot Wayne Pivac.

Additional reporting: AFP