New World Cup role for John Eales

The last Australian who won the World Cup, John Eales, has been appointed to a new role for the 2023 World Cup.

Wallabies legend John Eales will chair a players committee for the 2023 World Cup

Dave Rennie will be doing everything he can to help the Wallabies hoist the Webb Ellis Cup for a third time, but the last Australian who won the World Cup, John Eales, has been appointed to a new role for the 2023 World Cup.

Eales has been announced as the chair of the players’ committee for the French tournament.

It’s the first time in rugby World Cup history a players’ committee has been introduced.

“Sport has an opportunity and a World Cup has an opportunity to shine a light on some things which can make a difference and that’s what we want to do,” Eales told News Corp.

In front of a select group of journalists globally, Eales introduced the committee members including French greats Yannick Jauzion, Philippe Sella, Jessy Tremouliere, Welsh legend Gareth Thomas, the mother of England stars Mako and Billy Vunipola, Jessinga, and former Wallabies captain David Pocock.

The committee has five missions; to celebrate rugby’s history; recognise the dedication and commitment of mothers; bring the amateur and professional levels of the French game together; raise rugby’s inclusivity level; and raise awareness of environmental impacts and issues.

“One of the most attainable legacies will be the games itself and whoever holds the trophy at the end of it, but wouldn’t it be nice if there’s a couple of other things that we can point to five-10-20 years down the track that were influenced by this World Cup in 2023,” Eales said.

The inclusion of Pocock recognises his colossal feats during his 12-year international career, which included three World Cups.

Pocock was actively involved in environmental campaigns and decided not to get married until same-sex marriage was legalised.

Former Welsh captain Thomas, a giant of the game who publicly came out as gay in 2009 as a 35-year-old, is another who has been actively involved in ensuring inclusivity is achieved.

Rather than hoping to make a political statement though, Eales said the committee wasn’t attempting to politicise the sport.

“This is so not political what we’ll be doing,” he said. “It’s just about trying to shine a light on important things in the game. These are things that people are involved in.

“Look at Mrs Vunipola, she’s a mother, there’s something particular about mothers and the role they’ve played, but it’s a role that was important at the start of rugby and it’s a role that will be important for the continuation of our sport, and now it’s actually a broader role because it’s mothers of young boys and girls whereas back in 1987 it was pretty much just the mothers of young boys.

“You talk about sustainability, sustainability is not political. It’s a real consideration for anyone. You talk about business, you want a business to be sustainable for 40 years, not four years.”

In other news, former Wallabies coach Eddie Jones will remain in charge of England until the 2023 World Cup.

Jones took England to the World Cup final, but has come under immense criticism for the side’s dour and uninspiring play since.

England won the Six Nations in 2020, but slumped to a fifth-place finish this year.

The poor result led to a review by the Rugby Football Union, but the vastly experienced coach has been backed to lead England through to the World Cup. England will tour Australia in 2022, having wiped the floor 3-0 against Michael Cheika’s Wallabies in 2016 under Jones.

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