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Eighteen years after being sacked as Wallabies coach, Eddie Jones has sensationally returned to take Australia through to the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
His appointment comes just eight months out from the World Cup, with New Zealander Dave Rennie sacked following three years as coach. His axing comes less than a week after holding a four-day camp on the Gold Coast.
Rennie, who won just five of 14 Tests in 2022, finishes with a winning percentage of 38 – the lowest of any Wallabies coach (minimum 30 Tests).
The two-time Super Rugby-winning coach, who led the Chiefs to titles in 2012 and 2013, will be paid out and placed on gardening leave.
Eddie Jones has been appointed Wallabies coach less than eight months out from the World Cup. Photo: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images
Jones, who was sacked by the Rugby Football Union in December but has the highest win rate of any England coach at 73 per cent, has signed a five-year deal.
The 62-year-old has a history of turning team around, having led England to an equal tier-one world record 18 straight victories after taking over from Stuart Lancaster following the 2015 World Cup.
He will be in charge of both the Wallabies and the Wallaroos, officially starting on January 29.
“It is a wonderful opportunity for me to be able to come home to Australia and lead my nation to a Rugby World Cup,” Jones said in a statement.
“It is going to be an immense period for Australian Rugby – as a proud Australian, it is a great honour to be able to come home and lead the national team during these years.
“The Wallabies squad is a really talented group of players with good depth – if we can have everyone fit and healthy going into the World Cup this year, I am confident that we can go to France and break the 24-year drought of winning the Rugby World Cup.
“I saw how gutsy the Wallaroos were in the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand last year – it looks like there is a real spirit in that group that will drive the women’s program forward ahead of their next World Cup in 2025.
“I am really looking forward to getting back home and getting stuck in.”
Hamish McLennan has described Eddie Jones’ return to Australian rugby as a “coup”. Photo: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images
Rugby Australia has been in conversations with Jones ever since the Australian masterminded England’s second straight series victory over the Wallabies Down Under.
“It is a major coup for Australian rugby to have the best coach in the world return home to coach the iconic Wallabies and to oversee the Wallaroos program,” McLennan said.
“Eddie’s deep understanding of our rugby system and knowledge of our player group and pathways will lift the team to the next level.
“Eddie instinctively understands the Australian way of playing Rugby – this represents an opportunity to secure a coach of immense expertise and experience at the biggest competitions, and we did not want to miss it.”
Dave Rennie has been sacked as Wallabies coach. Photo: Chris Hyde/Getty Images
By securing a come-from-behind 2-1 series victory in Australia, Jones won his 10th Test from 11 matches against the Wallabies since taking over England at the end of 2015.
At the same time, plans to extend Rennie’s contract beyond the 2023 World Cup in France were put on pause.
Following the Wallabies’ record loss to Michael Cheika’s Los Pumas in Argentina, as well as the deflating loss in Sydney to the Springboks, they were withdrawn.
The Wallabies’ historic maiden defeat to Italy in Florence saw the Rugby Australia board strongly reconsider their position on Rennie.
A narrow 13-10 defeat to Ireland in Dublin and a massive 21-point come-from-behind victory over Wales bought Rennie some time.
But the moment Jones was sacked by the RFU, a decision several current and former players slammed, including Owen Farrell and James Haskell who called it “utter madness”, RA reconsidered their position.
It led RA officials to throw their energy into snapping up Jones as quick as possible.
Noah Lolesio consoles his teammate Ben Donaldson following the Wallabies’ loss to Italy at Stadio Artemio Franchi on November 12, 2022 in Florenc. Photo: Timothy Rogers/Getty Images
Rennie, who has started conversations in Japan to join Kobe in the League One competition, shut down the possibility of working with Jones during an interview last week.
“It won’t happen before the World Cup,” Rennie said. “Look, there’s a fair bit of speculation about a lot of other things, but my focus is with this group and on the World Cup and I guess anything else happening beyond that will be clarified over the next few months.
“We’ve had no discussions around that. There’s no plan to make any changes to the coaching group at this stage. And I haven’t spoken to [chairman] Hamish [McLennan] and I haven’t spoken to [chief executive] Andy [Marinos], so my assumption is that we’ll push on. What happens beyond ’23 is a different matter.”
RA sources were left shocked by Rennie’s comments.
The governing body was bewildered why Rennie would rule out working with someone with so much World Cup experience
Over the weekend, the decision was made to farewell Rennie with Jones to start immediately.
It’s understood the playing group is not shocked, with a number of senior players seeing the writing on the wall in the days before Christmas.
But with every passing day more and more thought Rennie would hang on.
Players were asked to join a call on Monday morning with CEO Andy Marinos.
At that time the players knew: blood was in the water.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.