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Eddie Jones: Why R360 will be good for rugby
Emily Benammar • October 23rd, 2025 7:18 pm
Photo: Huw Evans Picture Agency
Former Wallabies coach Eddie Jones has spoken of the brutality of being sacked from a top role and revealed he reached out to Ange Postecoglou after his acrimonious exit from Nottingham Forest last weekend.
In a wide-ranging interview with SEN, Jones addressed the cut-throat nature of working in elite sport, gave his thoughts on what the rebel R360 league might do to both rugby codes and lifted the lid on his time in charge of Australian union.
Jones, who back in 2015 became the first non-Englishman to coach the national side.
It was a huge moment in the history of the English game and during his tenure, Jones led England to their first World Cup final since 2007. He describes the 32-12 defeat to South Africa as one of the hardest defeats of his life to stomach.
Three years later he was sacked after a poor run of form. Jones finished up at England with a 73% winning rate.
It was the second time in his career he had been shown the exit door – previously Australia had dismissed him – and Jones says the feeling never gets any easier.
“I just love coaching. When you finish playing it’s the next best thing. It’s such an enjoyable experience,” he told SEN.
“The more you coach the more you learn that your day will come. Don’t look too far ahead. I’ve been sacked a couple of times now and it hurts, it puts you in a world of hurt.
“Ange Postecoglou just got sacked, we were just texting each other the other day. He knew it was coming but it still hurts. Hurts like buggary.
“I was the first (non-English England coach) and I reckon I’ll be the last.
The English, they invented the game and they’re very hierarchical and status driven. There was always pressure, they look down at Australians, they really do.
“They players were a good bunch of guys; we got them back to playing like England. Good, tough hard rugby. That world Cup final was probably the most disappointing games I’ve ever coached in.
“I still have a scar on the back of my head that reminds me of that night.”'
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After his England sacking, Jones returned to the head coach role with the Wallabies for a second stint at the start of 2023 to replace Dave Rennie.
His tenure was not without scandal. He was “caught” interviewing with another national team during the 2023 World Cup – an accusation he rejects claiming he was simply advising the Japanese governing body.
During his tenure he managed just two wins in nine Tests and oversaw Australia’s worst ever performance at a World Cup where they failed to make it out of the group stages.
Six weeks after his sacking he was announced as Japan’s coach where he remains at the helm.
Despite the acrimonious end, he has no regrets.
“In reality, I knew I was on a hiding to nothing,” Jones said about rejoining Australia’s coaching ranks.
“You know, we had four days before the first rugby championship game and we only had a week and a half before the World Cup.
“I knew it was gonna be tough, but I wanted to do it.
“I wanted to shake up Australian rugby and we got a few things done.
“We got Joseph Sua'ali' over the line and look what he’s done for the game.”
Given his near five decade involvement in the rugby world, Jones as asked for his thoughts on the rebel R360 league that is looking to shake up the world game at both a union and league level.
With franchises reportedly offering eye-watering sums of money to lure the best talent away from their clubs to take part in a grand prix style global league, both codes have their guards up.
NRL bosses have discussed the threat from the R360 rugby competition with the 17 NRL clubs | Photo: Richard Wainwright/AAP
NRL CEO Peter V’landys has threatened any player engaging with the R360 talent scouts with a 10-year ban from the league while eight union governing bodies have united in saying players who defect will not be eligible for international selection.
For Jones, he welcomes the shake-up given the current state of domestic union around the world.
“He's good at making a statement,” he said referring to V’landys.
“He can find the headlines, that bloke, he's a top-class administrator.
“I think it's good for rugby.
“You’ve got a status quo and at the moment international rugby's flying but domestic rugby in most countries is struggling, just got to look at the Australian New Zealand situation in Super Rugby.
“Get a new product out there, get a new type of rugby, give it a go, see what happens.
“It's probably going to be the older players, the only the older players will go, initially and let’s see if we can bring new fans to the game, cause we need new fans, we need more people watching the game.”
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