SYDNEY (Reuters) – Rugby Australia is looking to move forward from their disappointing World Cup campaign with the release of an independent review that highlighted 23 recommendations for improving the Wallabies setup. The team, which is a two-time champion, suffered a shocking exit from the pool stage in the last World Cup and only managed to win two out of nine tests in 2023 under coach Eddie Jones.
The review was conducted by former Wallabies Justin Harrison and Andrew Slack, alongside high performance specialist Darlene Harrison and Pasifika advisor Moana Leilua, with input from 94 participants. Rugby Australia’s CEO Phil Waugh stated that the organization has already begun implementing structural changes under the guidance of new high performance director Peter Horne, in line with the recommendations provided by the review.
Waugh emphasized the importance of receiving honest feedback from stakeholders, particularly the players, in order to assess the unique circumstances of the previous season and use them as a foundation for a stronger Wallabies program moving forward. With Eddie Jones no longer in charge, the review panel refrained from directly assessing his tenure, although some recommendations indirectly addressed perceived weaknesses in his leadership.
One key area of criticism was Jones’ handling of informing long-serving players that they had not made the World Cup squad, leading to a call for a more transparent team selection process. Additionally, the review highlighted concerns about the frequent changes in team captaincy under Jones and recommended a reset in the formal player leadership structure.
There were also concerns raised about Jones’ decision to bring in coaches from rugby league and Australian Rules football, as well as utilizing coaches outside their areas of expertise. Waugh expressed confidence that the review findings will help set a new course for the Wallabies, focusing on implementing processes and structures to drive the team towards success in the future.
(Reporting by Nick Mulvenney, editing by Editing by Peter Rutherford)
