Eddie Jones to be reappointed as Japan head coach: reports

Eddie Jones is set to be announced as the head coach of Japan within days - making his brazen deception of Aussie rugby fans official.

Eddie Jones, Coach of Barbarians, looks on as he inspects the pitch prior to the Test Match between Wales and Barbarians at Principality Stadium on November 04, 2023 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Ryan Hiscott/Getty Images for Barbarians)

Eddie Jones is set to be reappointed as the head coach of Japan’s national rugby team pending approval from the union’s board, local media reported Sunday, less than two months after he walked out on the Wallabies.

The 63-year-old Australian has been strongly linked with a return to the Japanese team that he led to a historic win over South Africa at the 2015 World Cup in England - however he denied links to the role at least a dozen times when questioned by reporters since September.

Local media reported that Jones was successfully interviewed by the Japan Rugby Football Union on Thursday in Tokyo.

His reappointment is set to become official pending approval from the union’s board on Wednesday, sports newspapers including Sponichi said.

The role Jones played in steering Japan to the stunning 2015 victory over South Africa - in a match remembered as “Miracle of Brighton - made him the perennial favourite on the JRFU list of candidates.

Eddie Jones seen prior to the match between Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay and Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath on December 10, 2023 in Tokyo. (Photo by Toru Hanai/Getty Images)

Eddie Jones said he was returning to Japan for a holiday - but now looks to have been selected as coach of the national team. (Photo by Toru Hanai/Getty Images)

Jones’s wife is Japanese and lives in the country. His mother is Japanese-American.

Other names previously floated as Japan’s potential next head coach included South African Frans Ludeke, who coached Kubota Spears to last season’s Japanese club title.

Jones’ success with Japan from 2012 to 2015 helped land him the job as coach of England, who he took to the 2019 World Cup final and eventual defeat by South Africa.

https://t.co/yODtnm5vndpic.twitter.com/hlUluniuCU

— Tom Decent (@tomdecent) December 10, 2023

After lying to Australia about it 14 times, Eddie Jones will coach the Japanese Rugby team again. https://t.co/HXySLUPqJk#Eddiejones#Rugbyaustralia#7NEWSpic.twitter.com/zvQkgLeSCG

— 7NEWS Sydney (@7NewsSydney) December 10, 2023

Jones was fired by England last December having won just five of 13 Tests in 2022.

He was hired by Australia in January but quit in October after two wins from nine Tests, including a worst-ever World Cup performance where the Wallabies failed to make it out of the pool phase.

Jones repeatedly denied he had any links to the vacant Japan national coaching job since he was first reported to be a candidate for the role in late September, just days before Australia’s final World Cup pool match.

Originally published as Eddie Jones to be reappointed as Japan head coach: reports