Jones' exit is the 'sensible' outcome: Australia boss

MELBOURNE :Eddie Jones' resignation as Wallabies coach was the "sensible outcome" in the wake of the nation's disappointing World Cup run, Rugby Australia boss Phil Waugh said on Tuesday.

Jones revealed over the weekend he had agreed to terms with Rugby Australia (RA) regarding his exit, less than one year into a contract spanning the 2027 World Cup on home soil.

RA waited until Tuesday to confirm it had accepted Jones' resignation, about two weeks after the coach insisted he was fully committed to the Wallabies.

"I think we ended up at a sensible outcome and that's certainly something which we worked through over the last few days and we closed it out quite well," Waugh told a news conference at RA headquarters in Sydney.

"Eddie's put a lot into 2023 and into the (World Cup) campaign and the performances weren’t where they need to be," he continued. "I think that as the CEO, as Australian supporters, as Australians, we’re disappointed with the performances and we need to move forward from that."

Appointed in January to much fanfare in Australia - only weeks after being sacked as head coach of England - Jones led a youthful Wallabies squad to the World Cup in France, where they bowed out of the group stage for the first time.

The Wallabies were rocked during the tournament by reports Jones had interviewed for a coaching role with Japan two weeks before their first match. Jones repeatedly denied it.

Waugh said that he took Jones at his word and that the reports had not been a factor in his exit.

In an interview with local broadcaster Nine Network on Monday, Jones said he had resigned because RA could not commit "financial and political" resources to change Australian rugby.

Waugh said he was disappointed with the comments but