Eddie Jones returns as Wallabies coach after Dave Rennie sacked ahead of Rugby World Cup

Dave Rennie has been sacked as coach of the Wallabies with Eddie Jones to make a sensational return to Australian rugby’s top job in time for this year’s Rugby World Cup.

Jones, who was dismissed by England in December despite reaching the end of his tenure with the highest win ratio of any England coach, has signed a five-year deal and will be in charge of Australia’s next two men’s World Cup campaigns.

In a “world-first” role structure, he will also oversee the Wallaroos program as Rugby Australia pushes forward towards a professional future for the women’s game.

The Australian returns to the job he held from 2001 to 2005, during which he took his team to the 2003 Rugby World Cup final in Sydney. He said the chance to again coach his country at the global showpiece event was too good to turn down.

“It is going to be an immense period for Australian rugby – as a proud Australian, it is a great honour to be able to come home and lead the national team during these years,” Jones said.

“The Wallabies squad is a really talented group of players with good depth – if we can have everyone fit and healthy going into the World Cup this year, I am confident that we can go to France and break the 24-year drought of winning the Rugby World Cup.

“I saw how gutsy the Wallaroos were in the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand last year – it looks like there is a real spirit in that group that will drive the women’s program forward ahead of their next World Cup in 2025.

“I am really looking forward to getting back home and getting stuck in.”

Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan said securing Jones’s services was a “major coup” and labelled the 62-year-old “the best coach in the world”.

“Eddie’s deep understanding of our rugby system and knowledge of our player group and pathways will lift the team to the next level,” McLennan said.

“Eddie instinctively understands the Australian way of playing rugby – this represents an opportunity to secure a coach of immense expertise and experience at the biggest competitions, and we did not want to miss it.”

Rennie paid the price for a poor run of results over the last calendar year: just five wins from 14 Test matches saw the New Zealander finish with a win percentage of 38 – the lowest of any Wallabies coach in charge of at least 30 Tests and in stark contrast to Jones’s 73% as England coach.

RA CEO Andy Marinos said he was grateful for Rennie’s work and thanked him for his services over the past three years.

“Dave has been instrumental in developing much of the depth that we see in and around the current Wallabies squad; there are a number of players that are genuine World Cup possibilities because of opportunities that Dave has provided,” Marinos said.

“The work ethic, the spirit within the group, and the way the team carries itself are all a direct result of Dave’s input – he has made a real mark on this group of players.”

Jones will take up his role in an official capacity on 28 January, just under eight months before the start of the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.