Eddie Jones appointed Japan head coach for second time after disastrous Australia stint

Eddie Jones has been appointed for a second spell as Japan head coach, six weeks after stepping down from the Australia job following an early Rugby World Cup exit.

The Brave Blossoms announced on Wednesday that Jones will take over from January 1, 2024.

Jones returns to the role after a successful three-year spell between 2012 and 2015 that ultimately earned him the England job.

The former hooker led Japan to one of the greatest shock wins of all time at the 2015 Rugby World Cup in England when they defeated South Africa.

He went on to take England to a Six Nations Grand Slam in 2016, two more Six Nations titles and a World Cup runner-up finish in 2019 – the second of his career after doing the same with Australia in 2003.

However, his stock has fallen in recent years and he was sacked by England in December 2022 following a run of five wins in 12 Tests, before a tumultuous return to the Wallabies job.

Jones lashed out at critical journalists before the 2023 World Cup by telling them to “give themselves uppercuts” and lost seven of his nine games in charge, beating only Georgia and Portugal.

He was linked with the Japan job during the tournament in France but denied the reports as his side crashed out in the pool stage following defeats to Wales and Fiji, becoming the first Australia team ever to exit the competition at the first hurdle.

Jones resigned from his post on October 30, less than a year into a five-year deal.

Japan also bowed out at the pool stage at the World Cup, finishing third in Pool D after beating Chile and Samoa but losing to England and Argentina.

Jones will come up against his former employers next summer when England travel to Japan for a test match on Saturday June 22, 2024.

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