Australian Eddie Jones is set to ditch the Stormers and become the coach of England.

England Rugby has appointed Jones on a four-year contract, starting in December.

Rugby Football Union Chief Executive Ian Ritchie said: “We promised to recruit a coach with proven international experience and we have done that.”

“Eddie is a world-class coach, with extensive experience at the highest level with Australia, South Africa and Japan. We believe that the appointment, which was unanimously approved by the RFU Board, is the right one to bring England success in the short, medium and long term.

“We are confident Eddie can build on the strong foundations already laid, with this talented group of players largely remaining together through to the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan and beyond. We are grateful to the Stormers for their co-operation in releasing Eddie early from his contract.”

Jones wished to thank Western Province for allowing him to exit his contract with the club.

“Firstly my thanks must go to Rob Wagner and everyone at Western Province Rugby for understanding my decision and allowing me to return to the international stage so quickly,” said Jones.

“The opportunity to take the reins in, possibly, the world’s most high profile international rugby job doesn’t come along every day however, and I feel fortunate to be given the opportunity.

“I’m now looking forward to working with the RFU and the players to move beyond the disappointment England suffered at the World Cup and hope to build a new team that will reflect the level of talent that exists within the English game. I believe the future is bright for England.”

The 55-year-old will be in place when England kick off their Six Nations campaign next February after the Rugby football Union agreed £100,000 ($212,000) compensation with his current team, the Stormers in South Africa, according to the Daily Express and Daily Telegraph.

Stuart Lancaster left the post last week following England’s disastrous World Cup campaign on home soil.

Jones, who would become England’s first overseas coach, said on Tuesday that whoever succeeded Lancaster must have greater control over the country’s Test players.

“How can you manage your players when they are controlled by other organisations?” Jones said in an interview with the website ESPN Scrum.

Eddie Jones at his unveiling as the new Stormers coach last week.Source:AFP

“That is the single greatest task ahead of whoever is going to be appointed as the next England coach.”

The RFU failed to introduce a central contract system when the code turned professional 20 years ago, with players tied to their clubs instead.

Former Australia and Japan boss Jones fulfils the criteria of a coach of “proven international experience,” which Ritchie said would guide his search.

Jones was Australia’s coach when they lost the 2003 World Cup final to England and four years later was a member of South Africa’s backroom staff when they became world champions.

This year Jones oversaw Japan’s impressive performance at the World Cup, which included a shock defeat of South Africa — the biggest upset in the tournament’s history.

However, he only recently took up a post as coach of Super Rugby side Stormers.

Springboks great Bakkies Botha, a member of South Africa’s 2007 World Cup-winning side, believes Jones will prove a shrewd appointment.

“It will be a good step and a positive step forward for England,” said Botha, speaking ahead of the Barbarians’ clash with Argentina at Twickenham on Saturday.

“The Stormers’ loss will be England’s gain. He will definitely be a success. He knows what he wants.

“Just look at the Japan team he coached to victory over the Springboks — they outplayed us through intelligence, not brutality or strength, and that’s the type of coach Eddie is.”