Eddie Jones: Australia head coach resigns after less than year in charge

Eddie Jones also coached Australia from 2001 to 2005

Eddie Jones has resigned as Australia head coach after less than a year in charge.

The Wallabies failed to reach the knockout stages of the recent World Cup for the first time in history.

Jones, who began a second spell in charge in January, said he does not have another job lined up. He will officially step down on 25 November.

"I did want to go on. Coaching a team is a bit like a marriage - you need commitment from both sides," he said.

In an interview with Australian broadcaster Channel 9, former England and Japan coach Jones said: "I've got no job to go to, no job offer.

"My commitment to Australian rugby has been 100%. I was committed to change the team.

"I don't like to be in projects where I don't think they can really get to where they need to get to, and I've made that decision.

"Rugby Australia probably doesn't think that and that's where the unity of our project is not in the place it needs to be.

"Sometimes you go in the bank and blow it up but you don't come out with the money."

• Jones' resignation 'stinks', says Monye

• What went wrong for Australia at the World Cup?

Rugby Australia thanked Jones, 63, for his "commitment to the Wallabies in 2023" and chief executive Phil Waugh said a "sensible" agreement was reached.

"Eddie put a lot into 2023 and into the (World Cup) campaign and the performances weren't where they need to be," Waugh said.

"As the CEO, as Australian supporters, as Australians, we're disappointed with the performances and we need to move forward from that.

"The board has made some bold calls. Hindsight is a wonderful thing. Where we ended up was not good enough. This is hopefully a low point and a chance to reset."

Jones was sacked by England one month before returning as Australia coach, succeeding Dave Rennie.

He signed a contract until 2027, the year Australia hosts the next World Cup.

Last month it was reported that Jones was interviewed by Japan, whom he coached from 2012 to 2015, days before the World Cup started.

When asked about the speculation, he said: "I don't know what you're on about."

Jones led Australia and England to the World Cup final in 2003 and 2019 respectively, but lost on both occasions.

He told the Sydney Morning Herald: "[I] gave it a run - hopefully be the catalyst for change."

Australia were beaten by Fiji and lost heavily to Wales as they finished third in their World Cup group.

They won only two of nine Tests in Jones' second spell in charge - against tier-two nations Georgia and Portugal at the World Cup.

Rugby Australia launched an independent review into the team's performance at the World Cup.

Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan, who played a key role in Jones' reappointment, said he would not quit.

He told the Sydney Morning Herald: "I came to rugby to find a way to fix it when it all fell over and, despite the sad Eddie situation, this is another hurdle we'll overcome."