TOKYO: Eddie Jones was hired for a second stint as Japan’s coach on Wednesday in a deal taking him through to the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

The 63-year-old Jones quit as Australia coach on Oct. 29 after his native country’s woeful World Cup campaign in France, during which he denied holding talks with the Japanese Rugby Football Union.

Jones, whose mother is Japanese, will start his new role on Jan. 1 on a four-year deal, returning to a position he had from 2012-15 and that culminated in him leading the Brave Blossoms to one of the biggest upsets in rugby — and any sport — when they beat South Africa at the 2015 World Cup.

After leaving that job following the World Cup, he coached England for seven years — leading the team to the 2019 final — before spending less than a year in a second spell with the Wallabies.

Jamie Joseph departed as Japan coach after the recent World Cup, where the team was eliminated in the pool stage.

AP