05/01/01: Rod MacQueen has confirmed the worst-kept secret in Australian rugby by announcing he will be standing down as coach to the world champions in September.
Plans for a handover period were revealed in The Australiannewspaper last week with the Australian Rugby Union confirming that MacQueen will stand down after the British Lions' three-Test Australian tour in June and July and the Tri-Nations series that ends in September.
The 51-year-old has led the Wallabies to 32 wins, one draw and seven losses during his four-year spell at the helm, with his side lifting the World Cup in 1999 and clinching the Tri-Nations series against South Africa and New Zealand.
"I've always said that [September] would be the obvious time considering we have to go to the World Cup [in 2003 in Australia]," MacQueen said. "We are just finalising exactly the time and what is right for Australian rugby. I'm certainly happy to do that [have a handover period] if that's what the board wants."
MacQueen's successor - Super 12 ACT Brumbies coach Eddie Jones tops the list - will be in place for Australia's tour of Canada, Wales, England and France in October and November. AFP