Rugby Australia have thrown the Wallabies head coach search wide open, with chief executive Phil Waugh confirming the governing body would willingly speak with outgoing All Blacks boss Ian Foster — and insisting every available candidate is on the table.
Wallabies Head Coach Search Officially Under Way
Waugh faced the media for the first time following Eddie Jones’ resignation on Sunday, explaining that the 36-hour silence from Rugby Australia stemmed from the need to work through the “deed of release” clause in Jones’ contract. Despite the former coach walking out just ten months into a five-year deal, Waugh maintained RA emerged from the split in a sound financial position — crediting Jones’ understanding as both parties found a mutually acceptable exit. Waugh did, however, push back firmly on Jones’ characterisation of RA’s centralisation push, expressing confidence that meaningful alignment between head office and the state unions would arrive soon enough.
With the Wallabies’ next Test fixture still more than eight months away, Waugh stressed there would be no panic appointment. “The most important aspect is reconnecting with the Australian public and the community and then making sure that we land on the right coach,” he said. Historically, he acknowledged, RA had moved too quickly — and this time, the board intends to get it right, however long that takes.
Foster a Genuine Candidate After World Cup Final Heartbreak
The man generating the most buzz is, of course, Ian Foster. The New Zealand coach came within a single missed penalty of delivering a fourth Rugby World Cup for the All Blacks before his side fell 12-11 to the Springboks in Paris. Foster himself had plenty to say in the days that followed that agonising defeat, admitting uncertainty about whether he could coach against the All Blacks in future, but leaving the door clearly ajar for a new opportunity. “The inbox might be empty on Wednesday or Thursday,” he said — which, frankly, sounds like a man waiting for the phone to ring.
Waugh wasn’t shy about it either. “I think everyone’s a candidate,” he said. “Obviously Fozzy had a great campaign this year and probably a pretty close final that could have gone either way. We’re open to getting the best coach for our system and for our team.” Whether Foster would stomach the Tasman switch remains doubtful — not least given how ruthlessly his fellow New Zealander Dave Rennie was discarded by RA to make way for Jones at the start of 2023. There’s also the well-worn Japanese route, blazed by Foster’s predecessor and confidante Steve Hansen. Nevertheless, it is understood that former Brumbies coach Dan McKellar currently sits at the top of RA’s shortlist. Follow the latest rugby union news at BBC Sport.
Waugh Defends Hooper, Cooper and Foley After Jones’ Parting Shot
Meanwhile, Waugh went on the front foot to defend three Wallabies veterans after Jones told the Sydney Morning Herald last Friday that Michael Hooper, Quade Cooper and Bernard Foley were no longer “obsessed with winning” and were unsuitable role models for the World Cup campaign. Waugh was having none of it. “Across Michael Hooper, Quade Cooper, Bernard Foley, there’s 280 to 300 Test matches between those three,” he said. “They’ve all put their body on the line over a long period of time and are role models to not just their peers, but young boys and girls coming through the system. So I think it’s an absolutely unfair comment.” Strong words — and frankly, hard to argue with.
