Eddie Jones was unveiled to the media for a second stint as Japan’s national team head coach on Thursday just 46 days after walking out on his Australia after steering them to their first World Cup group stage exit.
Japan Rugby Football Union (JRFU) announced Jones' long-mooted return on Wednesday evening and confirmed the former England coach will start the role from 1 January 2024.
Jones, who still strenuously denies that he had a secret interview with the JRFU bosses while preparing the Wallabies for the World Cup in France, has signed a four-year contract up until the 2027 Rugby World Cup in... Australia.
The 63-year-old led Japan from 2012 to 2015 and is best remembered for overseeing their miraculous upset over South Africa at the 2015 World Cup before being lured away by England.
Jones, whose mother and wife is Japanese, moved back to Japan permanently in November and is now set for his third national team head coach role in the space of 12 months.
The Australian was sacked by England who lost patience with below-par performances in their Autumn internationals in 2022. This was despite early promise during his reign with three Six Nations titles and a 2019 World Cup final loss to South Africa which contributed to him ending his seven-year reign with a Test win percentage of 73%, the highest for an England team’s men’s head coach.
His dismal return to Australia ended when he resigned on October 29 after World Cup losses to Wales and Fiji sealed their elimination.
Before, during and after the World Cup, Jones was earmarked as the Brave Blossom's first choice to suceed to Jamie Joseph who announced in the summer that he would step down post-World Cup.
Jones was in attendance at Sunday’s League One opening weekend clash between Suntory Sungoliath and reigning champions Kubota Spears (below) and received a handful of boos when he was shown on the stadium’s big screen.
Ironically, Jones was there to witness his one rumoured rival for the Japan job, South African Frans Ludeke’s Kubota side endure a torrid afternoon as Suntory thrashed his charges 52-26.
The former Suntory coach has maintained his consultancy role with the club, which was a source of controversy as he held the role while leading England, and is understood to have played a role in the club’s recruitment of Welsh fly-half Gareth Anscombe who is yet to appear for his new side.
Jones’ Suntory ties were instrumental in his re-appointment today as he has kept a close relationship with JRFU President Masato Tsuchida who is a former Suntory player and head coach.
His first Test match in charge is set to be against England on June 22 before a Japan XV wlecomes the Māori All Blacks for two matches as part of the Lipovitan D Challenge Cup 2024.
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