Eddie Jones’ controversial second stint as Wallabies coach is over, ending one of the most tumultuous periods in Australian rugby history.

Less than a month after Australia’s dismal World Cup campaign ended – the Wallabies were knocked out in the group stages for the first time in history – Jones has resigned.

Rugby Australia and Jones are set to part ways, with chairman Hamish McLennan telling the Sydney Morning Herald Jones did not receive a payout.

Despite repeatedly telling fans and media that he was committed to Australian rugby for the long-term – as recently as a press conference less than a fortnight ago at Coogee Oval in Sydney – Jones has decided he cannot continue as Wallabies boss.

It comes after the Sydney Morning Herald’s revelation last month that Jones had a secret interview with Japan rugby officials about taking over as the country’s head coach in 2024.

Jones denies he took part in an interview with the JRFU, despite multiple news outlets reporting that is he poised to meet officials in Japan next month for a second interview.

The Sydney Morning Herald revealed on Friday that Jones informed RA he was open to walking away from the Wallabies job, less than 12 months into a five-year contract which was set to expire after the 2027 World Cup.

The Wallabies won two of nine tests under Jones this year, against minnows Georgia and Portugal.

Jones spoke to the Sydney Morning Herald’s Peter FitzSimons about his resignation and said his overriding emotion was “disappointment”.

“[I] gave it a run. Hopefully be the catalyst for change. Sometimes you have to eat shit for others to eat caviar further down the track,” Jones said.

McLennan also spoke to FitzSimons in Paris, the morning after South Africa triumphed over the All Blacks to win a record fourth Rugby World Cup.

“Another world-class Australian coach heads back overseas,” McLennan said.

“Is it the coach or the system? Michael Cheika gets sacked in 2019 after a quarter-final loss and takes Argentina to the semis in 2023. The lunacy must end. The supply chain is broken. Centralisation is the answer.

At the World Cup, Australia lost to Fiji for the first time in 69 years. One week later, the Wallabies suffered their heaviest World Cup defeat: a 40-6 loss to Wales.

The 63-year-old told reporters before the World Cup that he was confident Australia could win the tournament.

Jones is in the UK this week and will coach the Barbarians, an invitational rugby side, that will take on Wales.

From there, Jones has said he will go to Japan for a holiday with his wife but stressed that he would not be taking a job interview while there.

“I’d like to coach one more team. One more cycle,” Jones told The Australian.