Eddie Jones to return as Wallabies coach as Dave Rennie sacked

But former Jones students have warned the current players they "won't know what hit them" when Jones returns to Australia in the coming weeks to return to a job he had almost 20 years ago.

Former ACT Brumbies title winner Jones has signed a five-year deal to take the Wallabies to the 2023 World Cup, through a British and Irish Lions series in 2025 and then a home World Cup in 2027.

He will move back to Sydney to start his rebuild, breaking away from Rennie's Queensland set up after also agreeing to oversee the Wallaroos and rebuild rugby's battered profile.

Many had tipped Jones for a future Wallabies role from the moment he was sacked by England at the end of last year. Few thought it would come at Rennie's immediate expense, including those closest to the team.

Wallabies players and staff were told of the coaching change in the early hours of Monday morning, less than eight months before the first game of the World Cup.

Jones returns confident Australia has enough talent to win the World Cup for the first time in 24 years - but those who were in the box seat for a jersey could find themselves back at square one.

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Forty-four players converged on the Gold Coast last week as Rennie kicked off preparations for rugby's showpiece tournament, as debate rages on about Australia's best XV.

But history suggests Jones will not be afraid to clear the decks, reigniting ambitions of those overlooked by Rennie.

Matt Giteau says the gamble could pay off, having made his Wallabies debut during Jones' first stint as Australian coach.

"I feel for Rennie but at the same time if anyone can turn things around quickly it's Eddie," Giteau tweeted. "Some of the boys won't know what's hit them."

Former Wallaby Lote Tuqiri tweeted: "Eddie under massive pressure to perform but he does do well in these situations. Players should probably pack their mirrors for his [first] camp in charge".

Jones' five-year deal takes him through until the end of the 2027 World Cup - the first tournament in Australia since Jones was the coach in 2003.

"It is a wonderful opportunity for me to be able to come home to Australia and lead my nation to a Rugby World Cup," Jones said.

"It is going to be an immense period for Australian rugby - as a proud Australian, it is a great honour to be able to come home and lead the national team during these years.

"The Wallabies squad is a really talented group of players with good depth - if we can have everyone fit and healthy going into a World Cup this year, I am confident that we can go to France and break the 24-year drought of winning the Rugby World Cup.

"I saw how gutsy the Wallaroos were in the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand last year - it looks like there is a real spirit in that group that will drive the women's program forward ahead of their next World Cup in 2025."

Rugby Australia's top brass were already reassessing the Wallabies' coaching set-up following the resignation of attack coach Scott Wisemantel, leaving Dan McKellar as Rennie's leading offsider. Brumbies assistant Laurie Fisher had also spent considerable time in Wallabies camp.

Jones returns to the Wallabies after he was sacked by the Rugby Football Union in December. He had helped England win three Six Nations titles and led them to the 2019 World Cup final during his seven years at the helm.

The 62-year-old coached the Wallabies from 2001 until 2005, leading them to a World Cup final on home soil in 2003.

"It is a major coup for Australian rugby to have the best coach in the world return home to coach the iconic Wallabies and to oversee the Wallaroos program," Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan said.

"Eddie's deep understanding of our rugby system and knowledge of our player group and pathways will lift the team to the next level.

"Eddie instinctively understands the Australian way of playing rugby - this represents an opportunity to secure a coach of immense expertise and experience at the biggest competitions, and we did not want to miss it."

RA chief Andy Marinos said Rennie was "instrumental in developing much of the depth that we see in and around the current Wallabies squad; there are a number of players that are genuine World Cup possibilities because of opportunities that Dave has provided".

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