Eddie Jones has revealed he will be back in rugby for a “very short time” after his second spell in charge of Australia came to a disastrous end last month.
The 63-year-old resigned as head coach less than 12 months into a five-year contract on Sunday after the Wallabies failed to reach the knockout stages of the Rugby World Cup for the first time in the tournament’s history.
Jones took charge of the Barbarians on Saturday after their 49-26 defeat to Wales and suggested he had no intention of staying away from rugby for too long.
“One hundred percent, one hundred percent (…) very soon, very soon,” he replied when asked if he would return to coaching after leaving the Wallabies.
Jones was welcomed back to Australia with much fanfare after being sacked by the RFU in December last year following a run of just seven wins, five wins from 12 tests in 2022.
Eddie Jones has revealed he will be back in rugby ‘very shortly’ after leaving the Wallabies
The 63-year-old resigned from his role in Australia less than 12 months into a five-year contract
Jones returned to Australia earlier this year, taking over from Dave Rennie on a £2.4 million contract until 2027
Rugby Australia boss Hamish McLennan said Jones was the ideal man to lead the national team against the British and Irish Lions in 2025 and in the Rugby World Cup on home soil two years later.
The plan backfired spectacularly when Jones won just two of his nine Tests in charge and was reportedly in talks with the Japanese federation over their head coaching role.
Jones denied speculation that he had met with Japanese bosses in France ahead of the tournament, although reports in Asia suggest he was set to return to the Brave Blossoms, who he coached between 2012 and 2015.
On leaving the Wallabies, Jones told The Sydney Morning Herald: “I tried. Sometimes you have to eat shit so that others down the road can eat caviar.”
Last week, the 63-year-old said the reason he was stepping down from his role was Rugby Australia officials did not share the vision he had for the team and the sport.
“I went in with a plan and got a commitment from Rugby Australia as to what that would look like,” he said.
“When the unity of where we were going wasn’t the same – not because of Rugby Australia’s lack of desire, but because there were other forces at play – then the only thing I could do was resign.”
The Wallabies won just two of their nine Tests under Jones this year
Australia was eliminated in the group stages of the Rugby World Cup for the first time
Jones said he wanted to change the system, which was one of the main reasons he chose such an inexperienced World Cup squad.
But officials didn’t see his vision.
“Obviously the results are disappointing, but I went there with a plan to change Australian rugby, involving not just the team but the system that puts it together.
“If you’ve had 20 years of unsuccessful rugby, it’s because of the system. I went in with a plan to change the system, but that can’t be changed.
‘I had the feeling that my job would be at risk for the next four years, but I was not prepared for that.’
However, the former England manager insisted the Wallabies’ future may not be as bleak as their dismal World Cup performance suggested.
“They’ll be fine, buddy,” he said.
‘Those players will get much better because they have had experience, they have had a tough World Cup campaign and you need that sometimes.
Jones expects the Wallabies to be competitive when the British and Irish Lions land on Australian shores in 18 months’ time
“It’s given them a bit more resilience and a bit more work ethic, and there’s good young players there, so I think they’re doing well, mate.”
And Jones expects the Wallabies to be competitive when the British and Irish Lions land on Australian shores in 18 months’ time.
“It’s going to be huge, it’s going to be huge,” he said.
“Australia is a proud sporting nation and if they’re not doing well, everything is bad. Not much different from England. But a little bit of success and it goes up – and the Lions is a huge series.”