Eddie Jones ‘held 14-month long secret talks while still in charge of England’

17 January 2023 , 09:03

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Eddie Jones will lead Australia into the World Cup in France

Eddie Jones reportedly held talks over taking the Australia job while still in charge of England.

Jones' contract with the Wallabies will officially begin later this month after he was appointed as their new head coach, less than a month after being axed by England.

The RFU opted against including a non-compete clause in his departure, meaning Jones was free to sign a deal with another international side ahead of this year's World Cup.

But it appears talks with Rugby Australia were already well underway and began right back in November 2021, when Jones met with chairman Hamish McLennan and chief executive Andy Marinos.

The Telegraph reports Jones, 62, had dinner in London with the Rugby Australia chiefs, who were keen to take steps to see if he would be interested in taking the job when his England deal expired.

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Following England's tour Down Under last year, Jones is also claimed to have met with both McLennan and Marinos in Sydney.

Jones' contract was due to come to an end after the World Cup and it is stated he was fully focused on leading England into the tournament in France later this year.

With his position appearing increasingly under threat, he is understood to have held another meeting during the dismal autumn series in 2022.

Jones was axed by England after a shocking run of form (Getty Images)

And once Jones' exit was confirmed and he was replaced by Steve Borthwick, Australia bosses capitalised on the non-compete clause to step up talks and finalise his appointment.

McLennan told the Telegraph: “When we heard that Eddie had been cut we said: ‘Wow!’ “Then when we heard there was a non-compete [clause], we said: ‘Really!’

“There is no way I wanted someone like Eddie to go to one of my big competitors. His global knowledge of the game and our opposing sides is second to none. We didn’t want a rampaging Eddie on the loose.”

The RFU has stood by that decision insisting it was the right thing to do from "legal and moral perspectives". England and Australia could come up against each other in the latter stages of the World Cup.

Liam Prenderville