Wallabies coach Eddie Jones is reported to have been secretly interviewed by Japanese rugby officials to take over as the country’s head coach just days before the start of Australia’s Rugby World Cup campaign.
It has been previously reported Jones is considering walking away from Australian rugby with four years still on his contract after formal discussions about returning to Japan, where he coached from 2012 to 2015, and the Sydney Morning Herald reports Jones had been actively involved in the process of finding a successor for current Japan coach and former All Black Jamie Joseph.
Jones was reported to have applied for the head coaching role of the Brave Blossoms, and took part in an online Zoom interview with the Japanese rugby officials on August 25. At the time, he was in Paris with the Wallabies, two days out from a World Cup warm-up match against France. The Wallabies lost the match 41-17, the fifth on the trot the 63-year-old had lost as head coach.
Jones declined to comment on questions put to him by the Sydney Morning Herald, but a Japan Rugby Football Union spokesperson confirmed a selection process was under way.
“We have a policy that we won’t disclose any information about any candidates until we announce the new head coach, so unfortunately, there is no comment from our president at the moment,” the spokesperson said. “The new head coach has not been decided yet.”
