Former England head coach Eddie Jones has been approached by two rugby league sides, according to reports in Australia.
The Rugby Football Union sacked Jones after they won just five out of 12 Tests in 2022, which included a draw to New Zealand and losses to South Africa and Argentina in November.
Eddie Jones’ league dream
Jones has not been shy about expressing his interest in making a code switch and told the Sydney Morning Herald that the South Sydney Rabbitohs would be his ideal destination back in July.
“If there was an opportunity there [in the NRL], I would jump at it, but the reality is it’s probably not going to be there,” Jones said.
And when asked about his desire to take charge of the Rabbitohs, Jones said: “That would be the dream team. That would be the dream.”
Two NRL clubs interested in Jones
Jones looks to now have the opportunity to switch after veteran rugby league reporter Michelle Bishop revealed on SEN 1170 that two NRL teams have reached out to Jones about coaching positions.
“I can confirm two NRL clubs have made serious inquiries about luring Eddie Jones to the NRL to coach their clubs,” Bishop said.
“They’re investigating the possibility, and they are very serious about it.”
While Jones has built his reputation as a top-level coach in union, he does have a background in rugby league.
“He (Eddie Jones) is no stranger to the game,” Bishop said.
“He had a lot to do with rugby league in his earlier days.
“I see him as a bit of a Michael Cheika. He is a good manager; you saw Michael Cheika at the World Cup with Lebanon.
“He didn’t profess to know everything about rugby league, but he was the game manager.
Courtney Lawes was not consulted over Jones’ sacking
While Jones is planning for life after England, his captain during the tour of Australia, Courtney Lawes, has revealed that he wasn’t consulted over Jones’ sacking.
The RFU chief executive, Bill Sweeney, led a review of Jones after the November Test matches and was assisted by anonymous panel members.
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Lawes added that he was not consulted and did not know that any players were.
“No, I wasn’t. I don’t think any players were,” Lawes said when asked if he was invited to contribute.
“I heard the news last Tuesday and just gave [Eddie] a text thanking him for his service and what he had done for my career. That’s all I could really do.
“I was quite surprised because it’s so close to the World Cup. Eddie has got a pretty good track record at World Cups.
“The last couple of years haven’t really gone our way, but the World Cups are different for us because we get to spend so long together; we get to be a proper team for three or four months.”