Eddie Jones regrets 'Worst Ever' Press Conference meltdown

Eddie Jones has opened up about the infamous pre-World Cup press conference that became a defining moment of his final days as Wallabies head coach, describing it as “the worst press conference” of his entire career in rugby.

The explosive encounter, held at Sydney Airport ahead of the 2023 Rugby World Cup, saw Jones clash with journalists in an emotionally charged tirade.

Reflecting on the incident during a recent podcast appearance, Jones admitted, “I lost my cool.”

He revealed that personal turmoil behind the scenes had significantly influenced his temperament during the briefing. He had just flown back from Japan, where he had been arranging for his wife and their dog to relocate to Australia.

Tragically, the dog passed away during the trip, adding a heavy emotional burden to an already tense period.

“I had my wife crying to me on the phone, because the dog had replaced our daughter when she left,” Jones explained. The grief and stress, he said, left him with little tolerance for criticism at the time.

During the press conference, Jones lashed out at reporters, telling them to “give yourselves uppercuts”—a remark that drew sharp backlash.

At the heart of the media storm was his decision to leave experienced campaigners Michael Hooper and Quade Cooper out of the squad, moves that shocked the rugby community. Jones defended the call, citing issues with player fitness and overall team dynamics.

Now distanced from the incident, Jones acknowledged that while his remarks were emotionally driven, they were regrettable. He stepped down from his role following Australia’s early World Cup exit and later accepted a new coaching position in Japan.