Australian Eddie Jones flew into London today to finalise the deal that will see him take over as England head coach within 24 hours.

The former Australia and Japan coach left Cape Town last night to have a face-to-face meeting with RFU chief executive Ian Ritchie after deciding to quit the Stormers.

Jones was only unveiled as Stormers head coach last week and the RFU will have to pay a six-figure sum in compensation.

It is understood that the South African Super rugby franchise are already lining up former New Zealand coach John Mitchell as a replacement.

As part of a new era at Twickenham, the RFU could reunite Jake White and Jones as the pair masterminded South Africa’s World Cup triumph in 2007 when they defeated England in the final.

White, who is now Montpellier coach, could be given the role of performance director which would have implications for Rob Andrew in his job as the RFU’s professional rugby director.

Stuart Lancaster’s three-year reign ended last week following England’s World Cup disaster which saw them become the first hosts to fail to make the knock-out stages.

Stormers officials were today attempting to bring order to the chaos caused by England’s decision to opt for Jones. Director of rugby Gert Smal told Standard Sport: “We are aware of the speculation regarding Eddie Jones’s future. No further comment will be made until we have final clarity on the situation.”

Jones hit the headlines during the World Cup when his Japan team pulled off the shock of the tournament as they defeated South Africa in the pool stages. The 55‑year‑old was the Wallabies coach when they lost to England in the 2003 World Cup Final .

The former Saracens director of rugby distanced himself from the England job during his unveiling by Stormers but there was a turn in events this week as bookmakers suspended betting after he became the favourite

A Jones regime would see changes to the England coaching set-up with Andy Farrell, Graham Rownrtree and Mike Catt all under contract.

Former Saracens captain Steve Borthwick was Jones’s forwards coach with Japan at the World Cup and is now filling that role at Bristol. The Championship club would also require compensation for releasing Borthwick.

Before becoming the favourite for the job, Jones gave an interview calling for the RFU to centrally contract their players and described the Six Nations as “dour” while also expressing the view that England captain Chris Robshaw was not a genuine open side flanker. Jones will have to be more circumspect if he takes the job as the England players are tied to contracts with their clubs and that will not change.