Lyn Jones steps down as head coach of the Netherlands

Lyn Jones has stepped down from his role as head coach of the Netherlands after failing to lead the team into the next stage of World Cup qualifying.

The Netherlands lost 31-10 to Belgium in the playoff for fifth place in the Rugby Europe Championship in March, which cost them a place at the Final Qualification Tournament in November.

The winner of the Final Qualification Tournament will become the 24th and final team to stamp their ticket to Australia.

With the World Cup extended to 24 teams in 2027, the Netherlands appeared to have their best chance yet of making their tournament debut, but they fell short when it mattered, and Jones has walked away.

Up until the Belgium defeat, the Welshman’s record in charge had been looked upon in a positive light with nine wins from 17 Tests.

The former Wales flanker, who has previous international coaching experience with Russia and Namibia, took charge of his first game in November 2022, a 37-25 defeat at home to Canada.

In club rugby, the 60-year-old presided over the Ospreys’ most successful period during his time as head coach of the Welsh region, winning the Celtic League twice (2005 and 2007) and the Anglo-Welsh Cup (2008), so it’s unlikely he will be short of offers.

Reflecting on his time in charge, less than 24 hours after the news broke, Jones told RugbyPass: “I’m so proud of the progress made in Netherlands rugby. I’m lucky to have worked with wonderful people that have made me smile and brought the best out of me. It’s now the turn of the next man to pick up the reins and drive Netherlands forward.”

The newly appointed chairman of Rugby Netherlands, Friso Horstmeijer, has the task of finding a replacement for Jones as well as a new performance director after Kristhof Vanhout moved on.