Eddie Jones’ swift Australia return could come back to bite England

This is all absolutely great. Terrific entertainment.

Getting rid of Jones cost the RFU a fortune. Getting a non compete would top up that cost and generally if your dismissed then those clauses typically laps.

He may not have had one as when he was last renewed it was to be his last contract with the RFU and as such they may not have anticipated circumstances where he left with such a short window to the RWC.

He's lost numerous coaches over the last few years, all of which cost the RFU along with the fact that they've paid off Leicester for Borthwick.

RFU likely could do very little about the situation, this has put a big hole in their finances.

Gavin Mairs (Chief rugby correspondent for the Telegraph) is reporting today that the Aussies first sounded out Eddie Jones about a role with them around 14 months ago, and that he met with them on at least 2 other occasions including during last summer's England tour to Australia.

I wonder is there any part of him that deliberately ratcheted up the controversy and squad disharmony in the hopes of getting the sack and a payout, and waltzing into a role with the Aussies?

I did think it was unusual when he started publicly criticising aspects of the English game in the months up to and during the November internationals.

I really don't think so. The Aussies know exactly what he's like, and it's less of an issue for them it would appear.

Obviously he's said it was about 2024, but he would have to, he was under contract at the time so would be opening himself up to legal issues to say anything else.

It's fairly well documented how he considers himself this sort of master schemer / manipulator, so it wouldn't shock me at all.