Eddie Jones dismisses Japan speculation, affirms commitment as Australia coach

Head Coach Eddie Jones Commits to Australia Despite World Cup Exit

The Australian Wallabies, led by head coach Eddie Jones, suffered an early exit from the Rugby World Cup after being knocked out at the group stage for the first time in history. With defeats against Fiji and Wales, their campaign came to an unexpected end.

Despite rumors linking him with a return as Japan’s coach and his recent dismissal as England’s coach in December, Eddie Jones remains committed to Australian rugby. He firmly stated that he is staying and wants to leave Australian rugby in a better place than where it currently stands.

“I’ve always been dedicated to Australian rugby. It’s not absolutely my decision on how long I stay; we exist in a game where coaches don’t have that power,” said Jones who began his second stint as head coach of Australia earlier this year and has a contract until 2027.

The speculation surrounding his potential appointment as Japan’s coach resurfaced when reports claimed that he was interviewed by them before Australia started its World Cup journey. However, denying these claims strongly, the 63-year-old Australian mentioned that he had “no idea” about where such stories originated from since he hasn’t spoken with anyone regarding this matter yet.

Rugby Australia has decided on conducting an independent review of their team’s performance during the World Cup period. Nevertheless, despite criticism received for selecting a young squad, Jones stands by his decision, believing that it will benefit Australia in the long run and set them up for success at the 2027 home World Cup.

“Although our results at this year’s World Cup were not what we aimed for, I firmly believe that I have left the Australian team in an excellent position to thrive until 2027,” Jones expressed.

Australia managed to secure victories against Georgia and Portugal during their Pool C matches but fell short against Fiji and Wales, ultimately finishing third in their group.

Reflecting on their performance, Jones admitted, “We just weren’t good enough. You only need to look at the quarter-finals to see that we are not yet at that level. However, can we reach that level by 2027? Absolutely.”