Eddie Jones has quit as Wallabies coach, just 10 months into a five-year deal.
Jones’s imminent departure comes after a disastrous World Cup campaign in which the Wallabies failed to make the quarter-finals for the first time in history.
Under his second tenure in charge, Australia won only two of nine Tests in 2023.
Jones was asked by AAP if he had resigned and replied that it was “not far away”, with the paperwork with Rugby Australia surrounding his release set to be signed.
RA said late on Sunday they weren’t in a position to comment on his position.
Jones, who coached the Wallabies to a World Cup final in 2003 and England to the decider of the 2019 global showpiece, oversaw a horror show in France.
The Wallabies lost to Fiji for the first time in tournament history and endured further humiliation with a record-breaking 40-6 defeat to Wales.
The Wallabies were rocked on the eve of the tournament when Jones was linked to the Japan national team coaching vacancy, but he denied being interviewed for the post just days out from his side’s World Cup opener.
He was heavily criticised for his youth selection policy, leaving a number of veterans out of the squad including long-time skipper Michael Hooper and playmaker Quade Cooper.
Jones spoke of his ongoing commitment to the team upon his return to Australia and said that he was awaiting the result of a RA review of the World Cup.
A fortnight on and Jones told The Australian he had amicably agreed to the terms of his departure and that there would be no payout.
The 63-year-old also said he hoped his departure would be the “catalyst for change”.
Jones denied, again, that he had another job in Japan already lined up.
