Eddie Jones says he wants to continue coaching at international level and has not ruled out the possibility of taking the Australia job.
“It’s not about coaching England’s rivals, it’s about adding to the game. I love the game and I love coaching,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
“I want to continue coaching.”
The 62-year-old added: “As you get a bit older, as I am, you just want to leave things in a better place. I just want to share the great experience I have had, particularly with coaching players and teams.
“What we want to see is great games of rugby and if you have the opportunity to be part of that you are extremely lucky.”
Asked if he had spoken to Rugby Australia, Jones laughed and said: “Be a discerning reader, never believe what you read in the papers.”
Jones won 73% of his games in charge of England, claiming three Six Nations titles in his seven years in charge. He also led the team to the 2019 World Cup final, which they lost to South Africa, but was sacked earlier this month after only five wins from 12 Tests in 2022.
He said he could “feel the change in the wind” at Twickenham and could understand the decision.
Jones added: “When you have been coaching for a while you feel when your support is starting to wane and I knew we had to have good results in the autumn.
“I continued on coaching as well as I could and we had a plan to peak at the 2023 World Cup, but unfortunately we didn’t get the opportunity to finish that.
“I thought it was coming. There was a discussion but when boards make that decision, they already have it firmly in their mind.
“They made a decision that they didn’t think I can do the job to the level they want and I’m in no position to argue with it. I will move into what I’m going to do next and I wish England rugby all the best.”
Some of Jones’ former players have since come out in support of his coaching methods, including England captain Owen Farrell, who said Jones’ sacking was “unbelievably disappointing”.
The Rugby Football Union have appointed Steve Borthwick as Jones’ successor, but the Australian-born coach says he has “great memories” of leading England.
“I didn’t think I was coaching poorly and that is all I could control,” he said.
“The thing that is pleasing is the number of players who have come out and endorsed that, particularly when they cannot gain anything from that. But sometimes the results don’t go your way and you pay for it and I know that as well as anyone.
“I received 40 odd texts from players in some way thanking me or sending their best wishes, which they don’t need to do.
“I’ve got some great memories of the English players, they are a great bunch. They play hard and they train hard and they have a lot of pride in playing for England and I’m sure they will do well playing under Steve.”
Analysis
Chris Jones, BBC rugby correspondent
Jones is philosophical about his dismissal, saying he felt the mood at Twickenham turn during the autumn series, and believes the call was made to sack him even before he presented his review of the campaign.
However he says he has no regrets about any decisions he made towards the end of his tenure. He feels he was coaching as well as ever and has defended his strategy of prioritising the Rugby World Cup at all costs, a policy that has since been reversed by new coach Borthwick and the RFU.
Jones adds that he is sad he wasn’t able to see his England project through to completion but tellingly, at the age of 62, he believes he has one more big international head coach job left in him.
It’s likely Jones will continue to be a major player in world rugby for a few years yet.
