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International

Eddie Jones' Japan enlist the services of ex-England international

CARDIFF, WALES - AUGUST 17: Piers Francis of England and Anthony Watson of England break through the tackle of Dan Biggar of Wales during the Under Armour Summer Series match between Wales and England at Principality Stadium on August 17, 2019 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by David Rogers - RFU/The RFU Collection via Getty Images)

Former England centre Piers Francis has been brought in as a guest coach in the build-up to Japan’s crunch Test against Wales this Saturday, according to Japanese rugby website, rugbyjp.com.

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Francis, 35, has spent the last year and a half playing club rugby in Japan’s Third Division for Kurita Water Gush Akishima, having left Bath in November 2023.

Kent-born Francis won all nine of his England caps under Eddie Jones, who is 18 months into his second spell as the Brave Blossoms’ head coach.

He was a member of the England squad that reached the final of the Rugby World Cup in Japan in 2019, making just one tournament appearance – the 45-7 win against the USA.

Japan have won just 11 matches second time around under Jones, who boasted a 65% win record in his first spell, including the notable scalp of South Africa at RWC 2015.

A win over Wales in Kitakyushu this weekend will lift Japan above their opponents in the world rugby rankings for the first time since they were introduced in 2003.

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In 2018 the Japan Rugby Football Union invited Lesley McKenzie to become an assistant coach for the women’s sevens team. But the gig only lasted a few months as she was invited for a new role: head coach and main coordinator of the 15s programme.

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Comments on RugbyPass

L
Lou Cifer 17 minutes ago
Experienced commentator weighs in on Eben Etzebeth's verdict

Seen quite a few comments from around the world that the ban should be for internationals and not club games….didn’t see this mentioned when Ryan got his joke of a 2 week suspension for being a human torpedo into Marx’s face🤔

10 Go to comments
B
BleedRed&Black 1 hour ago
Mark Robinson addresses the public criticism of NZR's decision making

😁

4 Go to comments
d
d 1 hour ago
Mark Robinson addresses the public criticism of NZR's decision making

Well I think I can front foot that question and speak on behalf of the wider populace when I assert that I can in all confidence state unequivocally that this depends entirely on how you qualify "directly" and the general consensus of what is indeed "the point".

4 Go to comments
W
Wayneo 1 hour ago
Experienced commentator weighs in on Eben Etzebeth's verdict

It’s not weird at all, it’s the kind of thing brothers do to fill the time between knocking the stuffing out of each other.

Only some will understand, the rest get to be spectators watching The Greatest Rivalry on tv.



...

10 Go to comments
W
Wayneo 1 hour ago
Mark Robinson addresses the public criticism of NZR's decision making

Blah, blah, blah, blah marmite

All this is just useful idiot talk for “I made a monumental f…# up when I leaked the Aratipu report (that he commissioned) to the media informing SA Rugby that they were kicked out of Super Rugby and then refused to answer any of SA Rugby’s phone calls for the next two weeks, and only did so after some serious intervention from the ARU, Sky and SANZAAR.



...

4 Go to comments
N
Ninjin 1 hour ago
Alex Mann won't face citing for part in Wales-South Africa incident

Ai ou bra lines net fani yard af.

67 Go to comments
C
C H 1 hour ago
What Tony Johnson is hearing about the vacant All Blacks assistant role

I think there’s too many cooks there who are out of their depth.

Not enough international experience to compete withe top teams



...

3 Go to comments
H
Hammer Head 1 hour ago
Departing NZR CEO reflects on his near six-year tenure at the helm

Bless the mud island

9 Go to comments
H
Hammer Head 2 hours ago
Mark Robinson addresses the public criticism of NZR's decision making

Does anyone in New Zealand speak directly and to the point?

4 Go to comments
H
Hammer Head 2 hours ago
Experienced commentator weighs in on Eben Etzebeth's verdict

Waa waa. Boo hoo hoo.

10 Go to comments
c
ck 2 hours ago
What Tony Johnson is hearing about the vacant All Blacks assistant role

Don’t need a highball coach ,get a NRL/AFL pro to come in for a couple workshops here and there ,if razor isn’t getting sacked then sack Hansen and Ellison

3 Go to comments
L
Lerumo 3 hours ago
Sharks player ratings vs Toulouse | Investec Champions Cup 2026/26

Sharks continue to be the most frustrating SA side to watch, with or without star players. Rarely play as a team, more like a bunch of self-interested sportsmen forced to compete in a team sport.

1 Go to comments
P
PMcD 4 hours ago
Late George Hendy try sees Northampton nick win in France

I agree, the 1st round has some good games but whoever loses R1, it falls off pretty quickly and then comes back from the QF’s onwards.

SF’s are great, as are finals, so it ends in the right place but how they get there is not great.



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11 Go to comments
D
Dave Didley 4 hours ago
Experienced commentator weighs in on Eben Etzebeth's verdict

Deregistered by his club too.

Totally unrelated, but if a player in a similar position was to take some ’testosterone supplements’ that could be a great chance to cycle, out of competition and regular testing.



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10 Go to comments
D
Dave Didley 5 hours ago
Experienced commentator weighs in on Eben Etzebeth's verdict

Test level crime should equal test level time.

10 Go to comments
E
Ed the Duck 5 hours ago
Experienced commentator weighs in on Eben Etzebeth's verdict

So they’re saying that either the ban should be arbitrarily extended beyond the time decided by the disciplinary panel in order to include Test matches, or that the player should be able to play for his club immediately but sit out Test matches to serve the ban?

Sounds like a poorly thought through position!



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10 Go to comments
E
Ed the Duck 6 hours ago
Late George Hendy try sees Northampton nick win in France

They already have that qualifying method, more or less, with the league splits, it’s a balance between how much they can push the limits to generate revenue vs keeping the format tight and engaging for fans. As things stand, engagement is losing.

11 Go to comments
G
Gary C 6 hours ago
What Tony Johnson is hearing about the vacant All Blacks assistant role

Agree with Tony, the attack coach is critical and the AB's have not had one this year.

Also need 3 new number 10's to direct the team.



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3 Go to comments
J
JJ 6 hours ago
Experienced commentator weighs in on Eben Etzebeth's verdict

But it’s more than 12 weeks, it’s 12 matches which takes us in to April. It’s actually 18 weeks that he’s out for.

10 Go to comments
T
Tommy B 6 hours ago
How England are building the foundations for World Cup success in 2027

Much quicker, apparently. According to Van Graan one of the quickest at Bath - back or forward (obviously excluding Arundell).

262 Go to comments
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