The Eddie Jones fiasco is over. At least, in Australian rugby, for now.
Three months after denying he had any association with the Japan Rugby Football Union about taking over from Jamie Joseph as Japan’s next head coach, Jones was confirmed as the Brave Blossoms coach on Wednesday.
Less than a week after interviewing strongly in front of the JFRU in Tokyo, the JRFU announced his appointment via media release on Wednesday night.
Jones will appear at a media conference at 5.30pm local time on Thursday (7.30pm AEDT).
South Africa’s Frans Ludeke, who took Kubota Spears to their maiden Japanese League One title earlier this year, was runner-up.
The appointment has left many Wallabies who played under Jones at the World Cup angry.
Only last week, Wallabies centre Lalakai Foketi said he would be “hurt” if Jones was appointed as coach.
Eddie Jones is back in Japan. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Jones’ return is likely to divide opinion with Japan, too.
While he oversaw arguably rugby’s greatest upset during the 2015 World Cup, as Japan took down South Africa, his squad was on the point of a mutiny following years of being worked to the bone.
Still today, he has many detractors within Japanese rugby.
One person, however, who was always in his camp was new JRFU president Masato Tsuchida, who will appear alongside Jones at his media conference.
Jones and Tsuchida have known each other for almost three decades through their association at Suntory, the Japanese heavyweights the Australian first worked at and has always held a consultancy role with.
Insiders, including Japanese media outlets in recent days, have long believed Jones always had a standing invitation to return as Japan’s head coach.
Nonetheless, it’s Jones’ third international job in 12 months.
After two underwhelming years with England, Jones was sacked by the Rugby Football Union in early December 2022 after seven years in charge.
His early dismissal led to Rugby Australia pouncing on his services, as they feared him signing with a different national union following the 2023 World Cup.
It saw RA chairman Hamish McLennan, with the support of the board, sack Dave Rennie and sign Jones to a five-year deal.
Eddie Jones celebrates with Hiroshi Yamashita after the 2015 Rugby World Cup Pool B match between Samoa and Japan at Stadium mk on October 3, 2015 in Milton Keynes. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Nine months after taking on the role he resigned, citing RA’s inability to deliver on promises, including an inability to introduce reform measures and fail to get across the line a private equity deal that would bring in much-needed funds to power the game forward.
He finished with a 22 per cent win record in his second tenure in charge of the Wallabies, having led the side to just two wins from nine Tests.
His resignation came after five weeks of denials that he had spoken to the JFRU a fortnight out from the World Cup starting about replacing Joseph.
The Zoom interview occurred in Paris on August 25, two days before the Wallabies’ final Test before the World Cup.
Jones denied any link to the story, saying: “I don’t know what you’re talking about, mate.”
He added: “I really take umbrage at people questioning my commitment as Australia coach. I’ve been working non-stop since I’ve come in and apologise for the results. But to question my commitment to the job I think is a bit red hot.”
Jones moved to join his family in Japan after officially farewelling RA on November 25.
The disastrous year was the catalyst behind McLennan’s ousting last month, where the RA board faced pressure to make a change after six member unions called on the leadership change.
McLennan met with Jones before he departed Australian shores.
All along, McLennan and RA chief executive Phil Waugh took Jones at his word.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Waugh seemingly questioned Jones’ integrity as he looked to move past the calamitous year.
“As I said back at the time, I took Eddie on his word,” Waugh said.
“We want to be a game of integrity and a team of integrity, and we took Eddie on his word.”
Jones’ return to the Brave Blossoms is likely to make Waugh’s dealings with the JFRU interesting, particularly in light of the two national unions signing a “landmark” Memorandum of Understanding until the end of 2029 earlier this year.
It will see Australia A play Japan in 2024, before the Wallabies play the Brave Blossoms in 2025.
Jones’ deal should see him lead the Brave Blossoms to Australia in 2027 for the Rugby World Cup.
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Roar Rookie
This is so Eddie……..the man always carries a parachute.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
At the time Eddie presented his response as though there had been no discussions at all. He could have easily said he was asked to provide advice on potential candidates. He chose to act offended and pretend nothing took place.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
He effectively denied anything occured. It's become clear something did. But most importantly, if the way he has explained it today was true, instead of the indignant response, he would have been able to clarify. He effectively represented that there were no discussions which we know is a lie.
ScottD
Roar Guru
The real issue is that there is only one undisputed fact and that is that EJ was on a call with one of his mates in Japan and initially denied the call happened when asked if he was in a job interview. If he had laughed and said, “don’t be silly, I was talking to one of my mates”, that would have been a better response than pretending there was no call. Nobody knows for a fact what they talked about or what was agreed/canvassed/decided. All the “truths” that people are obsessing about are in fact supposition. Nobody is shooting the messenger but they are pointing out that the messenger (reporters) is quoting people that claim to know second hand (i.e. the “sources” weren’t themselves on the call) and that the headlines are therefore disingenuous and irresponsible. The so called “truth” is actually 3rd or 4th hand before it gets to the public. Smart people take 2nd hand information with a grain of salt and definitely don’t obsess about 4th hand information ad run around calling it “the TRUTH”.
ScottD
Roar Guru
That would be "Sir" Rutchie to you
Muglair
Roar Rookie
That would have been throwing fuel on the fire anyway. Why should he make a public statement ruling himself out of a job, when in fact it was quite possible he was going to be out of a job. Interesting that Nick White mentioned that the writing was on the wall because his game plan was right out of the box and difficult to implement. As that became obvious they started to tweak it but failed. That supports the contention of those who complained about inconsistent game plans, but also noting that coaches choosing the radical and unorthodox have already decided that BAU won’t cut it.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
What is a coincidence, at that level you must think everything is a conspiracy theory? No. We are all just pretty confident Eddie lied about things. None of these changes Jones points to would have had any impact during his tenure. Under Pulver pathways were changed in 2014. The first graduates of those pathways were our 2019 U20s JWC finalists. People think Eddie blatantly lied. That's their concern.
Muglair
Roar Rookie
What is a coincidence, at that level you must think everything is a conspiracy theory? The reality is that one, on no available evidence, extreme theory is that in August, having figured that there was no will or funding available to transform Australian pathways, that the players available were not capable of winning, and a break in the contract coming post RWC, Jones thought he should at least have a hat in the ring. If people think that is immoral and illegal then it is understandable they are concerned, even without the evidence. I would be interested to know just how high their own personal benchmarks are, and whether they live them. Looking at the prevailing Australian commercial cultures, and that in RA, it is a silly stance. We had a Chairperson who was disgusted that personal favours bestowed on directors did not guarantee 100% unconditional support for him on the RA Board. There are numerous other explanations that have been explained or could be inferred. In reality RA needs a desperate reset and turnaround strategy. Ugly has that has been, we should be grateful. We just need to get rid of a few more corporate career directors. Note that the latest Wests Tigers restructure, is a RL focussed group as opposed to the significant number of female marketing experts appointed ten years ago in the last restructure. The game has to be managed by competent rugby people, as opposed to non-rugby people whose achievements suggest they may not have been competent either.
ScottD
Roar Guru
Harry, I haven't heard or seen anyone on this site take the position there was no call. I have seen lots of people posting cautions on the careless language used to describe what the call actually was and whether it was an interview or an enquiry or something else.
cs
Roar Guru
Thank you for commenting. Good luck.
ScottD
Roar Guru
*sigh* more personal insults I led the horse to water, but clearly I couldn’t make it think.
cs
Roar Guru
Your condescension is appreciated. Don't forget to clean that stuff behind your ears.
ScottD
Roar Guru
Ah, there we go with the name calling again. Clearly assessing evidence isn’t a speciality of yours at all because you don’t understand what “evidence” is. If you asked those reporters they would tell you that their reports are “stories” not evidence and if you read their pieces properly then you would see that they have left themselves plenty of wriggle room in their reports – precisely because they know that they aren’t supported and they’d be legally at risk if they pretended they were “evidence” without proof which they didn’t pretend they had. But don’t mind me, you’re experienced at “assessing evidence” :laughing:
cs
Roar Guru
Actually three credible people with no personal interest citing independent sources professing direct knowledge. Assessing evidence is actually a specialty of mine. But believe whatever you like. Some people still think the earth is flat.
ScottD
Roar Guru
Yes, I definitely see where the problem is. You are stating that a report from someone who is saying that they heard it from someone else is evidence. I am saying that it isn't evidence. Clearly you don't understand the difference between hearsay and evidence.
cs
Roar Guru
Actually, I'm citing Tom Decent, Tim Horan and Catherine Murphy, all respected professionals. You're choosing to believe the bloke who was going to win the RWC, the Bledisloe and the World Cup. Do you see a problem?
Reds Harry
Roar Rookie
Still we have characters on these threads trying to say it didn't happen. Will look forward to reading Danny Weilder giving us Jones' PR team giving us camp Eddie's spin on things. Last week he told us that Eddie had turned down approaches from Georgia :laughing:
ScottD
Roar Guru
You can always tell the person who knows they have a weak argument because they resort to name calling. It’s not a substitute for the facts. But just to be absolutely clear- you are citing as “evidence” that some bloke, said that some other bloke told them that another bloke did something. Yep , that good evidence right there. There’s absolutely no doubt you’ve nailed it!!!!
cs
Roar Guru
Catherine Murphy also reported the same drawing on her independent source.
cs
Roar Guru
He didn't accept a call, he joined a job interview by zoom, according to several journalists with independent sources, more credibility, and less interest than Jones. But suit yourself, Alice.