He might not dare ask about their role in Eddie Jones’ resignation, but Phil Waugh insists Rugby Australia has a “good relationship” with the Japan Rugby Football Union and says the two nations will meet over the next 24 months in what shapes as a mouthwatering match with plenty of spice.
Six weeks after resigning from Rugby Australia, reports out of Japan over the week revealed Jones had edged out Frans Ludeke and would return to the Brave Blossoms head coaching role. An announcement is expected on Wednesday following a JFRU board meeting.
Jones’ return comes after he denied on more than a dozen occasions that he interviewed for the role with the JFRU on the eve of the 2023 tournament.
All along, Waugh refused to ask the JFRU is they had spoken to Jones, who oversaw the Wallabies’ World Cup disaster less than 12 months after returning to the role following Dave Rennie’s brutal sacking, about the coach taking over from Jamie Joseph.
Waugh said he took Jones’ word that there was nothing to the story.
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