Eddie Jones’s first major coaching role since he was sacked by England could involve a swift return to Twickenham – less than six months after he was shown the door by the Rugby Football Union.
Before Jones’s seven-year tenure as England head coach ended on Tuesday it is believed he was being lined up by the Barbarians to take charge of the invitational side next May. It is understood there is no clause in Jones’s severance package that would prevent him from taking a new job immediately but while the 62-year-old has already been touted for a move back to Australia – who had a mixed autumn – well-placed sources consider that a more likely proposition in 2024, after next year’s World Cup.
Still, Jones is unlikely to be short of offers amid links to the USA as well as offers in Japan, while taking charge of the Barbarians could provide an early opportunity to show his former employers what they are missing in the buildup to next year’s World Cup, right under their noses.
Jones’s only previous spell in charge of the Barbarians came shortly after the 2019 World Cup and, though his side lost, he spoke of the healing qualities that came with the role so soon after England’s defeat in the final by South Africa. Taking the reins of the Barbarians – in a fixture expected to be against a World XV – could prove cathartic again after he was denied another shot at a World Cup title, nine months before France 2023 begins. The fixture is scheduled to take place the day after the Premiership final and, though no members of England’s World Cup squad are expected to be involved, Jones could, ironically enough, be overseeing a number of future internationals from within the Premiership.
Meanwhile, it is understood Jones’s compensation package is significantly less than the £700,000 he would have earned if he had seen out his contract, which was due to expire in November next year. Jones was the top earner in international rugby but the RFU chief executive, Bill Sweeney, earlier this year dismissed suggestions that it would be prohibitively expensive to sack him.
Sweeney said: “Because he’s been here for the length of time he’s been here he’s subject to UK employment law. He’s the same as me or you. He has a notice period and that would be exercised under UK employment law. There’s nothing financially that would have an impact on a decision.”
