Eddie Jones confirmed as new England coach

Former Japan and Australia coach Eddie Jones has been confirmed as the new England Rugby head coach by the Rugby Football Union on a four year deal.

Jones is the first non-English coach of the England team and his appointment comes after he coached Japan to three victories at the Rugby World Cup.

The highlight of Japan’s successful Rugby World Cup campaign was their victory over South Africa’s Springboks in Brighton on the opening weekend.

Jones left his position as Japan coach after the Rugby World Cup and two weeks ago officially joined as Stormers Super Rugby coach.

The Australian coached the Wallabies to the 2003 Rugby World Cup final which was won by England and then four years later he won a Rugby World Cup winners medal with the Springboks as assistant coach to Jake White.

In 2001 Jones won a TriNations title as coach of Australia and earlier in the year he coached the Brumbies to a Super Rugby title.

After his stint in 2007 as Springboks assistant coach Jones coached Saracens in the English Premiership but the resigned for personal reasons and moved to Japan where he coached Suntory Sungoliath.

In 2012 after winning Japan’s Top League title he left Sungoliath and took over as Japan head coach.

Prior to the 2015 Rugby World Cup Japan’s Brave Blossom’s had failed to win a World Cup match since 1991 but under Jones they won three matches and became the first team to win as many matches without progressing to the play offs.

Eddie Jones said: “Firstly my thanks must go to Rob Wagner and everyone at Western Province Rugby for understanding my decision and allowing me to return to the international stage so quickly. The opportunity to take the reins in possibly the world’s most high profile international rugby job doesn’t come along every day however, and I feel fortunate to be given the opportunity.

“I’m now looking forward to working with the RFU and the players to move beyond the disappointment England suffered at the World Cup and hope to build a new team that will reflect the level of talent that exists within the English game. I believe the future is bright for England.”

RFU Chief Executive Ian Ritchie said: “We promised to recruit a coach with proven international experience and we have done that. Eddie is a world-class coach, with extensive experience at the highest level with Australia, South Africa and Japan. We believe that the appointment, which was unanimously approved by the RFU Board, is the right one to bring England success in the short, medium and long term.

“We are confident Eddie can build on the strong foundations already laid, with this talented group of players largely remaining together through to the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan and beyond. We are grateful to the Stormers for their co-operation in releasing Eddie early from his contract.”