Two rugby league clubs approach Eddie Jones following his sacking by England

It’s not long since Eddie Jones was sacked by England rugby union and as soon as it was even rumoured the rumours regarding his desire to coach rugby league were swirling and that’s been furthered today with reports that two NRL clubs want him as their coach.

The worst set of results in a calendar year since 2008 is what ultimately cost Jones his job and he was sacked accordingly, just nine months before the rugby union World Cup.

That meant that the services of Kevin Sinfield could be required by England with Sinfield’s Leciester Tigers’ boss, Steve Borthwick, reported as favourite for the job and he is apparently keen to take Sinfield with him.

Onto Jones though and he’s made it very clear throughout his career that he admires rugby league and would love to coach it one day, after all lots of league coaches and players successfully make the switch to union including Shaun Edwards and Andy Farrell, so Jones switching from 15 to 13 man isn’t crazy.

When visiting Penrith in the summer Jones said: “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,” adding. “That (the South Sydney Rabbitohs job) would be the dream team. That would be the dream.”

There’s since been a development and Michelle Bishop of 7NEWS in Australia has told SEN that the switch could be on sooner rather than later.

Bishop told SEN: “I can confirm two NRL clubs have made serious inquiries about luring Eddie Jones to the NRL to coach their clubs.”

Whilst it is unknown which two clubs have made contact with Jones, or whether the 62-year-old is in a position to accept, it’s still major news and would send shockwaves throughout both codes.

Only recently Australian rugby union coach, Michael Cheika, coached two different codes in a week as he balanced his role as Lebanon rugby league head coach at the World Cup with his union role and Bishop referenced Cheika when reporting on Jones’ situation.

“He (Jones) had a lot to do with rugby league in his earlier days,” she said.

“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. He had Matt King, Robbie Farah, he employed good people around him to get the job done.”