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Rugby Australia confirms Eddie Jones has quit as Wallabies coach / Photo: © AFP/File
Rugby Australia confirms Eddie Jones has quit as Wallabies coach
Rugby Australia said Tuesday it had accepted Eddie Jones' resignation as head coach of the Wallabies after just 10 months in the job, following their dismal showing at the World Cup.
Jones, 63, will formally leave his position on November 25, the governing body said, adding that it "wishes him the best in his future endeavours".
"Announcements regarding the future of the Wallabies coaching staff will be made in due course," Rugby Australia said in a statement.
Local media have linked former Wallabies pivot Stephen Larkham to the job, as well as his compatriot Dan McKellar, who is currently coaching English side Leicester.
Speculation has been rife that Jones would walk away from the Wallabies after just two wins from nine Tests since taking over in January.
Jones has stressed the need for Rugby Australia to overhaul its high-performance systems, reportedly walking away after failing to secure high-level backing for what he believed were much needed reforms.
He was hailed as the saviour of Australian rugby when he returned to the national set-up in January, a month after he was sacked by England having overseen their worst season in more than 10 years.
Despite concerns about the decline of the English side under Jones, he inked a lucrative contract through to the 2027 World Cup in Australia, while predicting the Wallabies were good enough to lift the trophy this year in France.
- Uncertain future -
Instead, their World Cup campaign derailed as Jones insisted on fast-tracking rookies at the expense of veteran stars, a move which backfired in high-pressure games.
His side flopped in the pool stages, losing to Fiji for the first time in 69 years and suffering their heaviest World Cup defeat in a record 40-6 loss to Wales.
Jones faced stinging criticism for his youth selection policy, which led to the omission of several veterans including long-time skipper Michael Hooper and playmaker Quade Cooper.
His fiery relationships with journalists and persistent rumours linking him to the vacant Japan job did not help his standing with Australian rugby fans.
Before his departure, Jones resolutely stuck by his decisions -- saying his only World Cup regret was telling reporters to "give themselves an uppercut" before jetting off to the tournament.
"I need to give myself an uppercut," he said after returning to Australia.
The pugnacious former club rugby front rower is currently in the UK as co-coach of invitation side the Barbarians, preparing them to face Wales this weekend.
He has repeatedly denied a return to coaching in Japan, where he has warm relationships with key rugby powerbrokers.
M.Powell--SFF
