Aussies target Jones

ENGLAND have issued a ‘hands-off’ warning to the Wallabies after Australian Rugby Union bosses confirmed their interest in bringing Eddie Jones home after next year’s World Cup. Jones is on a shortlist to succeed Michael Cheika, who WANTED MAN: England will fight to keep Jones has indicated he will stand down as coach if Australia do not win the tournament.

There would undoubtedly be an emotional pull for Jones, who took his home country to the 2003 World Cup final before losing to England during his previous stint in charge of the Wallabies.

The RFU, however, are adamant they can hold on to their head coach, dismissing the audacious bid from Down Under for Jones’s services as “pure speculation”.

“He has signed a contract with England to 2021,” said an RFU spokeswoman yesterday.

Jones’s recent contract extension is a hurdle but not necessarily a brick wall. The RFU bought Jones out

of his contract with the Stormers in 2015 to bring him to Twickenham. The financial constraints on the ARU are much tighter but Rugby Australia high performance manager Ben Whitaker confirmed Jones will be a target.

“I can’t speak for the board but if I’m pulling together a list of potential candidates, is Eddie Jones on there? Yeah, he is – quite obviously,” Whitaker, above, said. “Where that goes in terms of the process has still to be determined. Often the issue at international level is inexperience. International experience may be part of the criteria.

“I worked here with Eddie in 2003-05 and you appreciate his skills as a head coach. And if he’s willing and able, he would be on the list.” A second shot at coaching Australia after his previous four-year spell ended acrimoniously in his sacking in 2005 would be tempting for the 58-year-old whose mother and daughter still live there.

One big sticking point could be the 2021 Lions tour to South Africa. Jones is keen to lead the side and had an escape clause put in his England contract in case he is offered the job.