1
Eddie Jones begins England staff rebuild by adding Martin Gleeson
Martin Gleeson will join Eddie Jones’ England staff as attack coach from August 9, freeing up defence coach John Mitchell to move in the opposite direction and link up with Wasps as their new attack coach. Ex-rugby league star Gleeson had been touted for an England switch since last April and a deal has now been sealed as Jones kickstarts the rebuild of his backroom staff ahead of next November’s series of internationals.
ADVERTISEMENT
The England attack coach position had been vacant for some months following the post-Six Nations exit of Simon Amor. Skills coach Jason Ryles also cut his ties after he decided not to join up from Australia due to the pandemic while there have also been recent reports that head analyst Joe Lewis has left for personal reasons.
With forwards coach Matt Proudfoot the only remaining full-time member of Jones staff, it was reported last week that the England boss had met out-of-work Richard Cockerill at a Leicestershire cafe with a view to fleshing out his threadbare backroom.
Worcester’s new defence and kicking coach Mark Jones, the ex-Wales player who helped coached the Crusaders to Super Rugby titles, has also been mentioned as another possible recruit, but it’s the recruitment of Gleeson that is the first deal to be inked by the RFU, an agreement with Wasps which allows Mitchell to begin work at the Premiership club next week rather than after November’s international series as was initially indicated.
An RFU statement read: “Martin Gleeson will join the England senior coaching set-up as attack coach. Gleeson joins from Wasps where he has been attack coach since 2019. He enjoyed a successful rugby league playing career, representing both Britain and England.
Cafe rendezvous reportedly took place just eight days after Cockerill exited Edinburgh on July 19 "by mutual consent to pursue other opportunities"
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 29, 2021
“Gleeson played for Huddersfield Giants, St Helens, Warrington Wolves, Wigan Warriors, Hull FC and Salford City Reds, winning the Super League twice (2002 and 2010) and the Challenge Cup in 2004. He moved into coaching with Salford in 2014 before joining Wasps. Gleeson will begin working with Eddie Jones and the wider England staff on Monday, August 9. Following Gleeson’s arrival, John Mitchell will also join Wasps on August 9.”
Gleeson said: “As a player, you always want to represent your country at the highest level and it’s no different for a coach. This is something I have strived for and coaching England is the pinnacle. I’d like to thank everyone at Wasps for my time there, in particular Lee Blackett who took me under his wing after coming from rugby league and has supported me in taking this opportunity. Now I’m looking forward to working with Eddie, the staff and some of the best players in the world, helping them in their development and achieving their ultimate goals.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Jones, who is currently spending a few days working with Italian club Benetton, added: “We are building a coaching team to win the 2023 Rugby World Cup. We have five campaigns to go before then so every appointment from here on in is very important. We’re starting with Martin as attack coach.
“He is a bright young rugby coach with experience at the highest level in league so he will add significant power to the team. He has done extremely well with Wasps and he will come in and build on the good work that Simon Amor started with us. I look forward to welcoming him to the coaching team.”
The England boss is off on his travels again this month… https://t.co/NnLh5EHhZy
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 4, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
Hopefully this will mean a new Auckland league team to support in the west. Big Warriors fan but it’s very, very stale on that front and I’d like the option of another team if it was to watch league again. League needs to step up BIG time if its to get anywhere, another AK team and something from the capitol or south is a must for the game.
3 Go to commentsGood, deep interview, nice job Frankie!
1 Go to commentsNRL players don’t have anywhere near the number of Tests. Some people would be happy having Rest Homes full if 40 yo ex-players walking, or hobbling more like it, into walls. It’s just a game!
4 Go to commentsNOW Razor is worried about ABs getting injured or overplayed! Didn’t bother him last year. He happily played his AB Crusaders.
4 Go to commentsWhat is the World Rugby U20 players born year.
2 Go to commentsMuch like the Chiefs finally gave up waiting for Atu Moli to ever not be injured, you have to wonder if the Chiefs and Crusaders will let Josh Lord and Ethan Blackadder go next season. They’re being well paid to sit in the injury ward every year. Better off putting those funds towards someone who might actually play.
7 Go to commentsShowed better basic skills than some nz Super sides, who probably would have botched some of those backline moves. This tournament really is too short though. Needs more teams, or have them play two rounds to properly prepare them for the near full-time NH U20 sides.
4 Go to commentsGood grief it’s only six months. Probably just upset it’s not an established kiwi entering their prime they can “project” into green to join the rest.
1 Go to commentsGood player but far from being best in the world. That's an exaggeration. Perhaps Best in world by Northern Hemisphere standards and biasis but certainly not Southern Hemi standards
3 Go to commentsWell one thing about World Cup knock out rounds and Ireland is very clear: they won’t be getting ahead of themselves in ‘27! Because making it beyond the QF is well and truly ‘IN THEIR HEADS’ now…😉
71 Go to commentsHas this guy been dope tested? Sounds like a case of “roid rage”.
1 Go to commentsI would like to see him say that to Eben face to face in a dark alley.
71 Go to commentsYep, lost in translation. There are arrogant people in Ireland, yes. As there are arrogant people in every country, but as a nation, arrogance is not a general characteristic in Ireland. There has not really had a strong representation for any global sport over the years, and hence arrogance is not endemic to Irish people in this regard. I seriously doubt that was said or meant by 12 or 13 players. If it was said, it would have been said in jest and to pay Etzebeth and the Springboks a compliment for how hard fought the game was.
71 Go to commentsOne of the few Bidwell articles I can agree with. If coaches played their players through niggles and consistently played them 80mins then you could make an argument for resting protocols - they obviously don’t and are incredibly responsible, let’s give up the resting nonsense and let the boys play.
4 Go to commentsDaniel Gallan, please for the love of all that is holy, stop writing about rugby. Or at the very least stop telling people you are South African.
21 Go to commentsThis Dr.Rassie 6-2 filth is spreading. We need to ask World Rugby to ban something
1 Go to commentsPity he couldn’t call him a liar to his face, such a brave man.
71 Go to comments“You ain’t counting to 12 or 13 straight after a game, son!” Just because you don’t doesn’t mean everyone else doesn’t “I reckon if anyone said it they would have said, ‘Hopefully, see you in the final’.” Oh, you “reckon”, do you? You weren’t there, you weren’t part of the conversation but you know what was said… Id10T
71 Go to commentsNZ has such a rich history of quality number nines, and woman beaters.
1 Go to commentsThat’s what happens when you are scared of scrums
3 Go to comments