Eddie Jones has officially stepped down from his role as Wallabies coach, just 10 months into a five-year contract that was supposed to turn Australian rugby union around.
Following a tumultuous tenure that saw the Aussies knocked out of the recent World Cup in the group stages for the first time in history, the 63-year-old has now opted to jump off the sinking ship before being pushed.
Jones, who was in his second stint in the role, had been linked with a move to Japan throughout the tournament by a number of media outlets, but refuted the claims as recently as last week and committed to Rugby Australia.
But now, with the speculation and pressure continuing to mount, Jones has sensationally quit and left RA CEO Hamish McClennan in an awkward position.
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Why did Eddie Jones quit as Wallabies coach?
In an interview on Monday night, Jones explained the breakdown of the relationship and why he decided to move away from the green and gold.
“I did want to go on… but coaching a team is a bit like being in a marriage, you need commitment from both sides," he said on Channel Nine.
"I was committed to change the team, but Rugby Australia at the moment can’t activate the resources, which are both financial and political, to make real changes.
"I don’t like to be in projects that I don’t think can really get to where they need to get to, and I’ve made the decision that I don’t think that’s the case.
"Rugby Australia probably doesn’t think that and that’s where the unity of our project is not in the place it needs to be.
"Sometimes you go in the bank and blow it up, but you don’t come out with the money and that’s part of the deal."
Jones replaced former coach Dave Rennie back in January, with the hopes of restoring Australia to their former glory, targeting a number of high-profile NRL stars including Joseph Suaalii and Nathan Cleary.
However, the side won just two of nine matches under Jones' guidance and will now begin the hunt for a new mentor.
Eddie Jones denies Japan return rumours
Despite the lingering assumption that Jones will return to the Japanese national setup following the news of his resignation from Australia, he told Nine that there had been no discussions or job offers prior to his decision.
"I was 100 per cent committed and the only thing that’s difficult is the media trying to create a situation where they are trying to make out I haven’t been committed to the job," he said.
"Let’s be honest, I have no job to go to and no job offer, that’s never been the case. You can run all those sorts of stories and run whatever you want, but my commitment to Australian Rugby has been 100 per cent.
"At the moment, I’ve got no offer and there’s nothing in the horizon and I’m officially unemployed today."