Japan close to signing new Brave Blossoms head coach

The Japanese Rugby Football Union have announced that their process of securing a new head coach for the national team are in the final stages.

The JRFU would not confirm any names of the new Brave Blossoms head coach but it is expected that 2015 Super Rugby winning coach Jamie Joseph will be named in the new position.

Eddie Jones led Japan through the Rugby World Cup but he said earlier in the year that he would be leaving the position and has recently been appointed as England head coach.

The successor to Jones was to have been decided on Thursday at the board of directors meeting but the negotiations with the new coach are ongoing.

“We put his name forward (at the meeting), and spoke about him,” executive director Noriyuki Sakamoto told Kyodo News.

“Our plan is to have a decision by the end of the year.”

Joseph is under contract with the current Super Rugby Champions the Highlanders until the end of the 2016 Super Rugby season but they want him to stay on beyond that date.