One of the first people incoming Wallabies coach Eddie Jones spotted as he walked into Rugby Australia’s VIP suite at Allianz Stadium on Sunday was his schoolboy pal Gary Ella.
Jones forged a love for rugby with Gary and his future Wallaby brothers, Mark and Glen, during their time at La Perouse Public School in the late 1960s.
On his first day on Australian soil since being reappointed Wallabies coach earlier this month, after an 18-year “divorce”, Jones couldn’t keep the grin off his face as the reunions began.
“I was asking where Glen and Mark were and Gary didn’t know,” Jones told the Herald in between matches on the final day of the Sydney Sevens.
“Everyone’s excited by the opportunity for Australian rugby to do well. I’m so honoured to be given this responsibility.”
Finally, after months of speculation about a homecoming to Australian rugby, Jones has finally arrived and is “100 per cent” energised to transform the Wallabies into World Cup contenders.
Eddie Jones mingles with fans at the Sydney Sevens.Credit:Cole Bennetts
Sunday was a busy day for the 62-year-old, and the self-confessed workaholic wouldn’t have it any other way.
Jones and his wife Hiroko flew in from Tokyo and arrived at Sydney Airport just before 10am. Despite being “on the tarmac a bit longer than we hoped”, the pair were greeted by Rugby Australia chief executive Andy Marinos and a handful of other officials.
“We want to get on the front page by winning,” Jones told television reporters in front of a number of curious onlookers. “We want to see the headlines: ‘Wallabies win the Bledisloe Cup for the first time for 22 years’.”
Shortly after, Jones arrived at RA headquarters in Moore Park. It’s where his daughter, Chelsea, used to work as a logistics manager for RA while he was in charge of England.
Eddie Jones poses for a photo at Rugby Australia headquarters in Sydney on Sunday. Credit:Cole Bennetts
Understandably, there is a mix of excitement and trepidation at RA. No one knows how much Jones will rock the boat, so to speak.
As far as the fans go, Jones shook just about every hand available.
An office has already been set up for him next to Wallabies general manager Chris Webb and the pair have a lot of work to do in coming weeks to map out a huge year leading into the World Cup, which begins in September.
Next came the “grand tour”, where Jones scoped out the building and indoor training facilities before making his way next door to Allianz Stadium.
Eddie Jones poses for a selfie with a fan. Credit:Cole Bennetts
“I’m here mingling, mate,” Jones said high above the action on the eastern side of the ground. “I’ll start meeting with staff at Rugby Australia and the Wallabies staff [on Monday]. We’ve already got a bit of a plan of when we’ll get out to the states.
“I’ve spoken to a few of the senior players by phone but it’s obviously more beneficial to meet them face-to-face.”
In July, during Australia’s Test series against England, Jones had to be pulled away from an intoxicated Wallabies fan at the SCG after a fiery verbal exchange where he was labelled a “traitor”.
Sunday’s reception couldn’t have been more of a contrast as Jones posed for selfies with wide-eyed fans before and after a broadcast interview on the Allianz Stadium turf.
Eddie Jones makes a young fan’s day. Credit:Cole Bennetts
Kids who weren’t born when Jones last coached the Wallabies in 2005 ran down to get his autograph and get a glimpse of the most talked about man in Australian rugby.
“It’s great fun,” Jones told commentator Sean Maloney. “It’s like going to a T20 cricket game. A bit of fun, a lot of ball movement. The fans have a great time and a few beers.”
After a photoshoot and a brief interaction with an injured sevens player in the gym – “how long are you out for, mate?” – Jones departed just before 4pm to go and meet his 96-year-old mother.
“All the honeymoon stuff is nice, but you want to get your teeth into it. That’ll start tomorrow,” Jones said.
Maddison Levi en route to the line for Australia in their sevens win over Fiji on Sunday.Credit:Getty
Meanwhile, Australia’s women’s sevens team won both their matches on Sunday to finish fifth.
Tim Walsh’s team suffered a shock quarter-final defeat to France on Saturday, leaving them playing for pride on day three of competition.
Australia knocked off Great Britain 19-0 before downing Fiji 36-12 to wrap up fifth spot.
“It’s disappointing because we didn’t win and we want to win everything,” Walsh said.
“It was really character-building, I think they played really well today.”
Australia’s men, who also came up short against France on Saturday, fell 24-10 to Samoa in the fifth-place play-off.
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