Eddie Jones teases he will be back in a rugby coaching job ‘very shortly’ | Eddie Jones

Eddie Jones, the irrepressible rugby coach, has left his latest coaching role in Cardiff after a defeat, but he has promised to be back in a rugby job “very shortly”.

Jones couldn’t resist teasing as he left the Principality Stadium on Saturday night, having just led the Barbarians to a 49-26 loss. This came just five days after his resignation from the Australia job.

When asked if he would return to another coaching job, possibly another national team role, Jones enthusiastically responded, “A hundred per cent, hundred per cent… very shortly, very shortly.”

There have been consistent rumors linking Jones to a role with Japanese rugby, where he was previously the national team coach. However, he denied having any job interviews or offers.

Despite the ups and downs of the past week, including leaving Australia and experiencing another defeat with the Wallaby Barbarians against Wales, Jones had some encouraging words for his former team.

Eight of his World Cup squad members played in the Baa Baas team and performed well in the non-cap international match. This reminded Jones of the potential he left behind.

When asked about working with the players again, Jones replied, “No, it’s a different thing, different role, different relationship, but you just want to see them do well.”

He praised Tom Hooper for showing promise as a future player and predicted that Angus Bell would become a world-class player.

His praise aligned with his pre-match observations that Australian rugby would rise again.

“They’ll be alright, mate,” he said about the future of the Wallabies. “Those players will improve because they’ve gained experience and endured a tough World Cup campaign.”

Jones believes that the challenging experience will make them more resilient and hardworking. He expressed confidence in the talented young players and stated that they will be fine.

When asked if the Wallabies would be competitive when the British and Irish Lions visit in 2025, Jones responded, “It’ll be huge, be huge. Australia is a proud sporting nation.”

He compared the anticipation to a soap opera, emphasizing the significance of the Lions series.