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Eddie Jones dismisses NRL supremo Peter V’landys as ‘sort of horse who’s been on the TAB too much’ as Wallabies trainer escalates cross-codeword war
New Australia boss Eddie Jones wasted no time starting a war of words with the NRL, dismissing football boss Peter V’Landys as a ‘horse man’ who needed to get out of the TAB and watch some rugby.
Jones, who was sacked by England in December, replaced Dave Rennie as Wallabies manager on Monday in a shock move from Rugby Australia just eight months before the World Cup.
In his first spell in charge of the Wallabies between 2001 and 2005, Jones convinced NRL stars Wendell Sailor, Lote Tuqiri and Mat Rogers to code-switch.
Eddie Jones has urged NRL supremo Peter V’Landys to get out of TAB and watch rugby.
Earlier this week, the 62-year-old hinted at an equally bold foray, but V’Landys quickly shut down his plans.
In a dig at the disparity between the amount of time the ball spends in play in rugby compared to league, the NRL supremo noted that players switching to the union “can take their mobile phone with them in the field because they have 20 minutes to tweet, Instagram or TikTok’.
However, at his first press conference as Wallabies coach, Jones dismissed the criticism.
“I think he’s probably been sitting in TAB too long,” he said of V’Landys, who serves as chief executive of Racing New South Wales alongside his NRL role.
V’Landys dismissed rumors of NRL players defecting to the union, suggesting rugby was boring
“I encourage him to get out of TAB and go watch Super Rugby, I’ll treat him to a game.”
Australia’s newly appointed manager suggested that reviving public interest in rugby union would lead to more coverage, which in turn could see the union outshine the NRL.
“If we can play good rugby, people will want to see us play,” he said.
‘And if we win, we’ll be in a better position in the media […] because every rugby league journalist wants to be a part of it.
Lote Tuqiri made the switch from the NRL to a union during Jones’ first spell in charge of the Wallabies between 2001 and 2005.
Mat Rogers (front) and Wendell Sailor (back) also code-switched in the early 2000s
We could even take what’s his name, the guy with the horses to a press conference. V’Landys.
With the Lions’ tour in 2025 in the offing and the Rugby World Cup on home soil two years later, Jones insisted that player development was the priority, but revealed that Rugby Australia was ready to flex its financial muscles.
“We could get some of the players who have left to play rugby league and wear different colours, and have better colours,” he said.
“I think the president [Hamish McLennan] he is very interested in pinching some on the other side.
Sydney Roosters and Australia star Angus Crichton is understood to be one of Jones’ targets
Roosters fullback Joseph Suaali’i played Rugby Sevens for Australia before moving up to the league, where he has become a regular with Samoa.
Speaking on Wednesday, however, V’Landys insisted that losing players to rugby union was not a concern for the NRL.
“I’m not worried, because why would you want to save the best game ever for another game?” he told AAP.
There is more than money. There is also enjoyment and quality.
‘We have the best game of all […] people will always want to play the best game ever.’