RA statement: Eddie Jones names his new Wallabies coach

Eddie Jones has named his Wallabies new defence coach, appointing Brett Hodgson on a two-year deal through to the end of 2024. The former NRL player had been due to start working as the England defence coach for the 2023 Guinness Six Nations. With Anthony Seibold having signalled his intention in October to quit that role, Jones picked Hogdson as Seibold’s successor and he spent the Autumn Nations Series shadowing his fellow Australian.

However, after Jones was dismissed in early December as the England head coach, the RFU confirmed on January 2 that Hodgson would not be part of the new set-up under Steve Borthwick. Eight weeks later, it has now been revealed that Hodgson will still work in Test rugby this year as the new Wallabies boss has recruited him ahead of The Rugby Championship that will begin in July.

A Rugby Australia statement read: “Former NRL star and England assistant coach Brett Hodgson has been appointed as the Wallabies defence coach on a two-year deal until the end of 2024.

“Hodgson joins Rugby Australia following a highly decorated career as both a professional player and coach, having played over 350 first-grade games in NRL and English Super League, as well as representing New South Wales in State of Origin.

“Following retirement as a player, he began his coaching career in 2012 as a kicking consultant with Sale Sharks in the English Premiership before becoming an assistant with Hull FC in the Super League.

“He then moved back to Australia to take up a role with his former club, Wests Tigers in 2018, returning to the UK as head coach of Hull FC at the end of 2020. The 45-year-old most recently joined Eddie Jones as England’s defence coach in November last year and will begin his role with the Wallabies effective immediately.”

Hodgson said: “I’m really excited to be back in Australia and working with the Wallabies, especially in a World Cup year. There is plenty of hard work ahead and I’m looking forward to hitting the ground running and making a positive contribution to the team. The Wallabies are a team everyone in Australia loves to get behind and from what I have seen so far there’s plenty of talent here and that’s something that’s really exciting.”

Jones added: “Brett is a hard-working and detailed young coach who will be a great asset to the Wallabies and the coaching staff. He has worked under some great coaching mentors like Gus Gould and Tim Sheens in his time as a player and a coach, so he's well-schooled and I know he will give his best to the job of producing best defence in world.”