Former England coach Wayne Bennett in hot seat for Ashes gig amid unprecedented rule change

Former England head coach Wayne Bennett could be set to lead his home nation Australia in the Ashes if a major rule is changed.

Wayne Bennett is one of the most iconic coaches in the game and is still going strong at 75. He coached England from 2016 to 2018, taking charge of Great Britain in 2019 as well.

He’s previously coached Australia on two separate occasions as well and is now being touted as the ‘clear favourite’ for the vacant gig to lead the Kangaroos into the Ashes against England.

The role of Australia head coach is vacant after incumbent Mal Meninga stepped away when appointed as head coach of Perth Bears, who will enter the NRL at the start of the 2027 season.

Meninga spoke on his Australia exit by explaining that the job of building the Bears’ squad is a full-time one and not a role he could split with the national team job, however, Wayne Bennett would be doing just that if he were to be appointed.

Wayne Bennett set for Australia appointment

Bennett is currently the head coach of South Sydney Rabbitohs but could be appointed as head coach of Australia with the Australian Rugby League Commission set to make a decision soon.

ARLC rules dictate that club coaches can’t coach the national team, however, the commission are expected to change the rules when they meet this week.

That would see Wayne Bennett eligible to coach the Kangaroos and also raise plenty of questions about whether Meninga should have or could have been able to do the same, especially given the Bears aren’t yet in the NRL.

According to The Daily Telegraph, ‘the job will be Bennett’s if there is a policy shift’, with the outlet labelling as the ‘favourite’ for the role.

It would set up another brilliant narrative ahead of this Ashes series, the first in over 20 years. Recently, it was revealed that the Australians are yet to get their preparations underway with pitches and hotels not yet booked for their tour of England.