Wallaroos coach Jay Tregonning welcomed the oversight of Wallabies coach Eddie Jones in his program as Rugby Australia flagged a major funding upgrade for women’s rugby.
Announced as part of his return to Australian rugby last month, Jones’ role as an “overseer” of the Wallaroos program was explained in greater detail on Tuesday after RA boss Andy Marinos announced the extension of Tregonning as Wallaroos head coach for another year.
Tregonning was appointed at the end of 2021 and took the Wallaroos to a quarter-final finish at the Women’s Rugby World Cup last year; a solid result given most other playoff teams had contracted athletes.
Though Rugby Australia paid Wallaroos players paid $1400 a week in camp, the evidence of the World Cup prompted many to call for a major boost in investment in Australian women’s rugby. Marinos said the RA board agreed.
“It is very much in our focus. There are going to be some announcements later in the week around what that looks like for us but we are fully committed to continue our investment in the women’s game, and building that program up,” Marinos said.
Jay Tregonning has welcomed the oversight of Eddie Jones.Credit:Getty
Discussions on contracting Wallaroos players has been underway for several months, and Marinos previously targeted 2025 for the Wallaroos becoming full-time athletes. With Tregonning still juggling work as a teacher, Marinos said the aim was also to make the Wallaroos coach full-time next year.
Tregonning and assistants Scott Fava and Sione Fukofuka were belatedly extended after a review of the 2022 season, which was delayed by the New Years’ disruption of Dave Rennie being axed and Jones returning.
The 44-year-old said he was pleased to have Jones taking a role in women’s rugby, and the pair will sit down for the first time this weekend.
“Any time you get a chance to work with someone of that experience is outstanding, and I definitely welcome the opportunity to not only help improve the players but help improve the coaches as well. And ultimately help improve the Wallaroos’ performance on the field,” Tregonning said.
“Having that opportunity to work with Eddie, with all that international experience, and especially in regards to the programming and the planning, he is going to be outstanding for myself.”
Grace Kemp and the Wallaroos celebrate victory over Wales at the World Cup.Credit:Getty
Marinos clarified out that Jones won’t have hands-on coaching duties with the Wallaroos, but instead work on planning, training programs and coach development. The chief executive indicated Jones would help shape the Wallaroos’ playing style, however, and would be in regular contact with Tregonning, even while on duty with the Wallabies.
“I have had those conversations with Eddie in that overseeing role within the Wallaroos program, making sure we are getting the right planning and the right content. The coaches are very clear about the way we are going to want to play,” Marinos said.
“Eddie is very much allowing Jay, in this instance, to have his own flavour on it, but overall, there is an alignment on coaching philosophy.”
Having not played in 2020 or 2021, the Wallaroos played 11 Tests last year and will have another busy schedule in 2023. They will play in the PAC4 tournament in July in Canada, where New Zealand, Canada, Australia and the USA play a round-robin, and also take on the Kiwis in home-and-away Laurie O’Reilly Trophy games.
Bienne Terita charges past Black Ferns Renee Holmes and Portia Woodman to score in Australia’s loss to open the World Cup.Credit:Photosport
In September, the Wallaroos will then play in one of the two new WXV tournaments, where the best of the north and south will play in six-team tournaments. Finishing top three in the PAC4 would qualify Australia to play in the top ‘WXV 1’ event in South Africa.
Eye-catching success at the Rugby World Cup last year has opened up the prospect of the Wallaroos needing to contemplate using the “Giteau Law”, however.
Six Wallaroos now play in the English premiership – Bella McKenzie (Harlequins), Emily Chancellor (Harlequins), Kaitlan Leaney (Harlequins), Lori Cramer (Exeter), Michaela Leonard (Exeter) and Annabel Codey (Loughborough) – and though all should be back before the PAC4, if they re-sign they won’t be deemed local players. But Tregonning has the capacity to use the same three-players-per-series “Giteau Law” as the Wallabies coach, RA confirmed.
Marinos said he hoped the Super W would join up with the New Zealand Aupiki by next year and all Australia’s best players could stay at home.
“We have plans and ambitions to grow that competition and make it more competitive, and keep all of our talent here at home, into what is already a pretty full international calendar,” Marinos said.
“We have to see it (Wallaroos playing overseas) in the women’s program, at this point, as a positive thing. Some of our girls, Wallaroos have had the opportunity to go over and play in England, in a more professional competition. They are getting to compete at a higher level week-in, week-out.”
Watch all the action from the Six Nations with every match streaming ad-free, live and exclusive on Stan Sport.
