Rugby Australia boss Phil Waugh admits he would consider Eddie Jones disloyal if it is proven under-siege Wallabies coach participated in an interview with the Japan Rugby Football Union on the eve of the World Cup to replace the outgoing Jamie Joseph.
Waugh, who remains in Paris despite the Wallabies’ campaign ending more than a week ago, spoke with 2GB on Wednesday to address Jones’ future after a month of negative headlines surrounding the coach and indeed the game.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported less than 24 hours out from the Wallabies’ 40-6 loss to Wales that Jones was on a Zoom interview with the JFRU on August 25 – two weeks out from the side’s World Cup opener.
It came after an earlier report out of Japan suggesting Jones was still in the frame to return to the Japanese head coaching role eight years after leaving it.
Since then, there have been several reports linking Jones to the role.
It has been reported that Jones is one of three candidates asked for a second interview with the JFRU.
All Blacks assistant Scott McLeod and Frans Ludeke, who led Kubota to this year’s League One title, are reportedly the other candidates. Brave Blossoms assistant Tony Brown has also been thrown up in some circles, too.
All along, however, Jones has distanced himself from the report.
“I’m staying. I’ve always been committed to Australian rugby, want to leave it in a better place and that’s still the job,” said Jones, who signed a five-year deal with RA in January.
Jones’ relationship with Japan, especially Suntory – the Japanese League One club he has a long-standing relationship with for three decades and remains a consultant for – has always divided opinion.
Even before the veteran coach jumped on board in January, RA understood and accepted his relationship with Suntory and knew of his close relationship with Japan president Masato Tsuchida.
Indeed, in the final days of Jones’ seven-year tenure with the Rugby Football Union and in the weeks that followed, RA knew Jones was weighing up whether to join the Wallabies or return to Japan.
Jones, too, held talks with the JFRU before committing to the Wallabies.
That commitment is now very much up for debate.
Wallabies head coach Eddie Jones speaks to the media during a Rugby Australia press conference at Coogee Oval on October 17, 2023 in Sydney. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
Waugh, who has been in constant communication with the Wallabies coach and visited the team base late last month, told 2GB’s Chris O’Keefe that Jones had repeatedly denied to him any link to the interviewing process.
“As I’ve said quite publicly, Eddie said to me that he hasn’t had that [interview] and he said that to me a number of times, and I’ll take him for his word,” Waugh said.
“It’s not my responsibility to speculate or go and talk to the Japanese Rugby Football Union and ask them whether they’ve met with Eddie.
“Eddie’s said no. Everyone would be very, very disappointed if he had, particularly given the stage that we were at going into the World Cup. As we go forward that will become clear.”
Asked whether he would consider Jones “disloyal” if, indeed, he did interview for the vacant role, Waugh didn’t dispute the description.
“Anyone of a reasonable mind would say that if those conversations did occur, going into a World Cup, then I think that would be an appropriate assumption,” he said.
Rugby Australia CEO Phil Waugh says Eddie Jones will have been disloyal if reports linking him to the vacant Japanese head coaching role prove to be true. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Put to him that that would be a “big call”, Waugh disagreed: “It’s not a big call. That’d be fair to say that if those conversations were occurring in the middle of a World Cup campaign for Australia, at a World Cup that we were going to win, then it would be disappointing.”
Would it be a breach of contract?
“Contracts are interesting, as you know. I’m not going to get into the legalities of the wording within a contract,” he said.
“The reality is that we were clearly very disappointing in the World Cup. And we’ve let down Australians that put the trust and belief in the environment to do well. It’s been disappointing and we’ve got a lot to do in terms of regaining the trust of the public.”
Waugh, who played under Jones at the 2003 World Cup, would not hypothesise whether the veteran Wallabies coach was playing Rugby Australia in the hope of a pay out.
“There’s speculation on a lot of those things, it’s still pretty raw,” he said.
“We need to do a thorough assessment of our performance and the campaign, which we’re in the process of doing and, hopefully, we can do that really quickly. There’ll be recommendations from that review.”
Waugh, who acknowledged that history showed the Wallabies got their World Cup selection wrong, also sidestepped how Jones was still in the role.
“We’ll work through the assessment of the campaign and then obviously there’ll be recommendations on that and then we’ll act on those,” he said.
ScottD
Roar Guru
We never made it to Avignon. Next time :)
Favourable Matchups
Roar Rookie
I asked Christy about this on another post and got this response: —- Christy, have you had any sense of a shift from Chairman to CEO as spokesperson? It has seemed very odd that after a couple of years of the Chairman speaking on behalf of RA it has changed in the past month or so to Waugh. If the Chairman will still be making public comment, is there any likelihood that he will address the Japan Eddie updates at all or Eddie’s odd press conference on Tuesday? —- It was always Hamish’s intention for Phil to speak more. He felt he needed to speak more on the game’s behalf under the previous regime. As for addressing Eddie’s future, Hamish hasn’t exactly gone MIA – but again, Phil spoke of that in the past 24 hours.
Lomax
Roar Rookie
To be fair it’s hard to believe a word the bloke says. Once trust is gone… by all means he should be allowed the benefit of doubt but he’s a proven liar.
Passit2me
Roar Rookie
The difference being, Fiji coach Simon Raiwalui will see out his contract which expires in December. this was his last tournament. What is his new gig the rumour mill is talking about?
Passit2me
Roar Rookie
Its been reported Hamish is taking a backward step out of the limelight as more of a non-director role or something like that, and giving the reins to Phil Waugh.
Passit2me
Roar Rookie
He maybe denying it, but his body language is not that of someone whose response is deeply rooted in the truth. It's the little pauses, lack of conviction in his face and eyes. He's full of it.
Passit2me
Roar Rookie
It’s impolite to say “No” in Japan apparently. Heard that from a mate who has worked with them also.
Passit2me
Roar Rookie
“It’s not my responsibility to speculate or go and talk to the Japanese Rugby Football Union and ask them whether they’ve met with Eddie". Why not? What is there to hide? Surely if you had the opportunity to either bring the truth to light or put the whole drama to bed, you would take it wouldn't you?? It's just a phone call. Eddies body and facial language at the Aussie press conference when asked about the Japanese zoom meeting, and Waugh's lack of interest in seeking out the truth, makes the whole thing stink to high heaven of both parties protecting one another. And these are the people taking rugby forward in this country?? It will crash and burn along the way, because it won't be rooted in integrity, but in protectionism and nepotism, which will dilute the quality of intended outcomes. Good luck in 2027, because with these "mates" at the helm, you will absolutely need it.
Honest Max
Roar Rookie
World Rugby has meetings that Australia needs to be at. Physically being in Australia and not at the meetings with the other national unions does what?
Honest Max
Roar Rookie
Who cares what McLennan says? He’s a banker and he needs to go.
Honest Max
Roar Rookie
Where is experience in sports administration? Those jobs you listed don’t seem relevant at all to me. Is there a CEOs of another sport with less experience? Is there a single boss of an AFL or NRL club with less experience? Banking manager means what? He NEVER should have been on a shortlist. His appointment is 100% nepotism and apparently based on his relationship with the Milkman. Having said that, I don’t feel that he’s done a bad job so far and I really like some of the things Waugh said. He’s there now and we need him to succeed.
Honest Max
Roar Rookie
The accomodation was likely booked and paid for long ago. World Rugby traditionally has their global meetings at the end of the year - it’s almost certain that Waugh is there for business.
KTinHK
Roar Pro
He is still very green and inexperienced, at the starting end of his career, unlike most of those who are awarded such a top end job. I also had a masters degree and numerous letters after my name as a guy his age but I was not in any way ready to take on a top ranking position like lead a nation’s major sport.
Sage
Roar Rookie
If so, that just makes your comment even less accurate. National management roles at the NAB, Westpac & CBA. Two Masters degrees, involved with a few media companies and an experienced public speaker. "This is the problem with employing ex players for leading admin roles when they really are not qualified". - Dunno, but I reckon he might handle a leading admin role OK, even though it is a different role to number 7. I certainly have no great love for Waugh but c'mon....
KTinHK
Roar Pro
Everyone’s darling at the moment, Fiji coach Simon Raiwalui, gave his strong support to EJ’s discussions with the JRU, stating it was commonplace for exactly that to happen, particularly at this time, as coaches consider what their future may be after the RWC. Often their heads are on the chopping block, so they may consider keeping irons in the fire in case they are suddenly unemployed… a scenario which looks highly possible at the moment. Indeed, from the sounds of it and rumours that Raiwalui has his own post-RWC employment lined up, it is possible that he was doing exactly the same thing. As for Waugh, in his current important position, he needs to learn the art of keeping his mouth shut and not being lured by journalists into sound bites and headlines.
Dean
Roar Rookie
Hamish is probably filling his gullet on fois Gras and Bourdeaux at RA’s expense before he is offed.
KTinHK
Roar Pro
Have.
ScrumStability
Roar Rookie
Have you noticed there is less and less of Hamish and more of Phil?
ScrumStability
Roar Rookie
I detected that also. I think he is trying to get some manoeuvring room if Eddie pulls the pin or a review points to an unfavourable conclusion regarding Eddie's tenure.
cs
Roar Guru
I think the money's on an Eddie-agent to Japan interview.