Eddie Jones to be named head coach of Japan
Eddie Jones is poised to make a return as the head coach of Japan, a position he previously held until 2015, despite vehemently denying reports of an interview for the role during his tenure as Wallabies coach at the Rugby World Cup.
Reports from Japan suggest that Jones, who had been repeatedly linked with the position, will officially be announced as the head coach. Jones is now set to take the reins once again, pending clearance by the Japan Rugby Football Union (JRFU) board on December 13. He will almost certainly be contracted through the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
Jones had repeatedly denied reports in the Sydney Morning Herald that he had interviewed for the role despite having been contracted with Rugby Australia through to 2027 on a A$4.5m (£2.35m) deal.
The former England coach’s departure just nine months into a five-year contract came as no surprise after a disastrous Rugby World Cup with the Wallabies, where the two-time champions failed to make it out of the pool stages despite what many viewed as a favourable draw.
Jones had also been shortlisted for the head coaching position with Georgia, competing with illustrious figures like former Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt and ex-England assistant coach Richard Cockerill. However, the latter has reportedly emerged victorious in securing the role with the Lelos.
Jones was reappointed Australia head coach in January 2023, just one month after the Rugby Football Union sacked him for a poor run of results in which England had won just five of 12 Tests in 2022.
He led England to three Six Nations titles, including the Grand Slam in 2016, and also to the final of the 2019 World Cup in Japan.
Jones’ return to Australia, for whom he coached between 2001 and 2005 and led them to the 2003 World Cup final in which they were beaten by England, quickly turned sour.
The Wallabies won two of nine Tests this year, against minnows Georgia and Portugal, and suffered respective 22-15 and 40-6 World Cup defeats to Fiji and Wales.
Australia’s 12.5 per cent win rate in Jones’s second stint as Wallabies coach is the least successful in their history.
In an additional twist, the Sponichi sports website reported that recently departed Wallabies general manager Chris Webb may potentially join Jones’ coaching staff in Japan. Webb, a longstanding colleague of Jones dating back to the early 2000s with the Wallabies, is no stranger to Japanese rugby, having worked extensively in the country. Currently serving as a consultant with Toshiba, Webb’s potential involvement adds another layer of intrigue to Jones’ coaching setup.
additional reporting PA
Comments on RugbyPass
Yeah nah he comes across as a funny bloke, but that stopped abruptly after the Nutcracker Prince debacle✋
1 Go to commentsAt this point I can’t watch him without thinking he’s a dirty slimebag. He should have been banned for the same amount of time that Quinn was out. It took Tupaea near on a fricking year to get fit enough to play again and his leg will never be the same. The other crap thing is that he was at ABs level and now he has to claw his way back there when he could have had several games under his belt.
4 Go to commentsThe Black Ferns 7’s have been without Captain Sarah Hirini now since Dec 23 in Dubai where she suffered a bad ACL injury - hopefully she is on the road to recovery for Madrid and Paris. Now also have Tyler King and Shiray kaka on the Injured List but the Team still found a way to win in Singapore and claim the overall Title.
1 Go to commentsUtter grub, hope he gets his leg broken. Shocking he is still playing after intentionally breaking quinn tupaeas knee
4 Go to commentsGreat to see NZ 7s teams finally coming into form and playing at the level that is expected of them.
2 Go to commentsChief Cheapshot on the market again.
4 Go to commentsCrusaders went all in to buy Hotham and Kemara staight from Hamilton Boys. Then they picked up Reihana and Hohepa; all have been dropped for superstar Havili, who is a very good fullback, that’s it. Ennor and Goodhue were schoolboy stars too but went backwards at the Crusaders. Maybe they have finally decided to give another poach Levi Aumua the ball?
13 Go to commentsJoe S has some talent to pick from. The Reds loosies look the best in Super? Aus might just give Razor a headache this year. Int. experience v Cantab greenhorn:) Should be fun.
13 Go to commentsEnd to end play, “THE FANS” this game was entertainment of the best. The conditions added to the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsSorry to say, but sadly the sadas were just ordinary and havilli at 10 as an abs selection just won’t cut it. He’s better suited in the centre’s and is a victim of past charge down kicks, he’s too slow under pressure. There’s better talent further north and I don’t mean dmac however I believe razor will sort him out. A feature of his presents on the park is the fact that the guys will follow him.
13 Go to commentsMarler was brilliant throughout both in the scrum and open play. His slap made virtually no contact with Ramos who milked it for a penalty when he could have been a decent sportsman and laughed it off, it was non-violent and shouldn't have been penalised. Smith failed repeatedly to kick when necessary and put up a couple of bombs into the TLS 22 that just handed back possession at key moments to the other side.
3 Go to commentsCros was outstanding and rightly awarded France TVs player of the match award. Mallia was brilliant as usual (the y is below the 6 on a UK keyboard and he deserves better than that). Level also seems to have been scored harshly as he walked the ball into touch under pressure from a Lynagh kick from well outside his own half which should never have led to a 50-22. Agree with BullShark that Dupont, while class at times, seemed to go missing for patches in the second half with props, hookers and wings frequently filling in at 9 as he couldn't get off the deck and up to the next ruck on time. A 7 by his standards at best, his kicking was also too long, too often. Kinghorn's overall contribution was worth well more than a five.
4 Go to commentsThe Harlequins team must be in minus figures. Did the reporter actually watch the game?
4 Go to commentsHow on earth did Walker escape a red card? Not dangerous? Dupont has his face in a mask earlier this season. Shocking decision. What is the point of TMOs? We had the Fassi ‘non-penalty try’ yesterday and now this.
2 Go to commentsCould have been a different result but yet again French tv able to affect the result by not showing the very clear high shot on harlequin centre if this would have been on a French player would have been on screen at least five times
3 Go to commentsAmazing. The losing team’s ratings are higher than the winning team’s. Mallia definitely didn’t deserve a y. What game were you watching? Should have got a w or an x. ADP hardly featured in that second half. At one point I wondered when he’d been subbed. Seems to me as if he gets an automatic 9 just for getting onto the team sheet.
4 Go to commentsI’m sorry. That second half was far from enthralling. It was painful to watch.
2 Go to commentsVery generous! If you’d missed the game, reading this you’d conclude that it was the Quins front row that cost them the game. Marler getting a blanket 6 for his demented contribution to the game. Puzzling.
3 Go to commentsCan’t see Toulouse beating Leinster at this rate.
7 Go to commentsADP was having a very average game until winning that penalty for Toulouse, sticking his big head in the way. “The head of God”?
7 Go to comments