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England face battle to keep Eddie Jones beyond 2019 World Cup
England head coach Eddie Jones is being lined up to take over as Australia head coach should Michael Cheika step down after the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
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Cheika led the Wallabies to the 2015 Rugby World Cup final and the former Leinster and Stade Francais head coach has already said he’d walk if they don’t go one better in Japan.
Rugby Australia high performance manager Ben Whitaker revealed that Jones, who led Australia between 2001 and 2005, is in the frame.
“I can’t speak on behalf of the board, but if I’m tasked with pulling together a list of potential candidates, is Eddie Jones on there, yeah he is,” told Fox Sports Australia
“You appreciate the skills he’s got as a head coach and if he’s willing and able – things you’d have to work out – he’d be on the list, probably another dozen would be too.”
Jones has led England to 24 wins in his 26 games in charge and to second in the World Rugby rankings.
Recruiting Jones would be difficult, in January he signed a contract extension with the RFU until 2021. He has also been linked to the British and Irish Lions for their tour to South Africa in 2021.
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