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Author Topic: Eddie Jones: England boss signs new deal through to 2023 World Cup  (Read 563 times)

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SwindonQuin

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https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/52129858

Eddie Jones has agreed a contract extension to coach England through to the Rugby World Cup in France in 2023.

The 60-year-old's current contract was due to expire in August 2021, but he had been set for a new deal since leading England to the World Cup final last year.

Jones has a 78% win ratio since taking the role at the end of 2015.

"We have a great team and I am excited about raising the standards again," Jones said.

The timing of the announcement comes in the midst of the coronavirus crisis, with many at the RFU and in the wider rugby community fearing for their futures.

"My thoughts and those of all of us at the RFU are with everyone impacted by Covid-19, both across the country at large but also within our own rugby union community. In exceptionally difficult times, we are pleased to be sharing some good news," said RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney.

Jones added: "The extension is a great honour for me, but in the current environment, it is only right to acknowledge what a difficult time the world is facing. We are all looking forward to a time when we can get back to playing rugby and use the sport as a force for good in bringing people back together."

Jones was appointed in December 2015, replacing Stuart Lancaster after a disappointing home World Cup that autumn.

He led England to a record-equalling unbeaten run, which included a Grand Slam in 2016 and a Six Nations title the year after.

The team's form slumped in 2018, but Jones arrested the slide before the World Cup in Japan.

There, superb victories over Australia in the quarter-finals and New Zealand in the semi-finals established Jones' men as favourites to beat South Africa in the final, but an inspired Springboks performance condemned an under-par England to a 32-12 defeat.

Concerns over the impact of that loss in the final were exacerbated when England were beaten by France in Paris in their 2020 Six Nations opener, but they rallied with victories against Scotland, Ireland and Wales to seal the Triple Crown before the Championship was curtailed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

"We set out four years ago to be the best team in the world and unfortunately we missed that by 80 minutes," Jones said on Thursday.

"Now we want to be the team that is remembered as being the greatest team the game has ever seen. It's a big ambition but I believe we are capable of doing it."

If Jones does lead England through to France in 2023, he will eclipse World Cup winner Sir Clive Woodward as the country's longest-serving boss.

Jones' win record puts him alongside Woodward as one of England's greatest ever coaches, but successive RFU chiefs have had to reprimand him over his conduct.

Following the win over Wales at the start of March, the RFU apologised on Jones' behalf after he suggested referee Ben O'Keefe was biased in his decision-making.

But Sweeney is clearly comfortable that the occasional controversy that surrounds Jones is a fair exchange for re-establishing England as a leading force in the global game.

"We reached an understanding soon after returning from Japan but there were some things that we wanted to make sure worked for both sides," Sweeney added.

"We have announced Eddie's contract extension a few weeks later than planned as our focus was diverted to support the English rugby community during this difficult time. We are now turning our attention to developing plans to support the rebooting of rugby and a winning England team will provide a vital role in that."

England are third in the World Rugby rankings, behind South Africa and New Zealand.

Last month, Jones joined members of the RFU executive board in taking a pay reduction in excess of 25%, predominantly in the form of forgone bonuses, as a response to the financial impact of Covid-19.

RodneyRegis

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SwindonQuin

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Yeah, I was thinking we might get a change but the team has done well so better the devil you know, maybe.

JammyGit

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In other circumstances this would probably annoy me but I genuinely think that whatever England rugby team eventually emerges from the abyss will need a strong hand at the tiller, and he's hardly an outright failure.

In this specific case I think it's a good idea.

MadMax

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Disappointing news as far as I'm concerned.

honkytonk

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Im pleased with that

DOK

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Disappointing news as far as I'm concerned.

Who would you have preferred to see? (genuine question). McCall and Baxter have both indicated they'd rather stay with their clubs, Richards...well he just can't. Gamble on another foreign coach?

Rocker

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Who would you have preferred to see? (genuine question). McCall and Baxter have both indicated they'd rather stay with their clubs, Richards...well he just can't. Gamble on another foreign coach?
This
There is no standout English candidate, perhaps in a few years time Borthwick will be the successor after a few successful years with Tigogers?

A222Quin

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Pretty much how I see it. No standout English candidate that would be interested. I believe Baxter and McCall are genuine about not wanting the job at the moment (you need rhino hide skin to do the job) and I'm not sure anyone better is available abroad right now.

Fearless Fred

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McCall probably has his sights set on Ireland.

MadMax

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Who would you have preferred to see? (genuine question). McCall and Baxter have both indicated they'd rather stay with their clubs, Richards...well he just can't. Gamble on another foreign coach?

Maybe Baxter would have taken it if he had been approached. Wouldn't touch the tarnished McCall with the proverbial barge pole. Wouldn't mind a foreign coach. My view is simply Jones isn't the sort of person I want in charge of my national team. Just my view of course.
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JammyGit

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Baxter has repeatedly and publicly said he doesn't want it.

MadMax

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Baxter has repeatedly and publicly said he doesn't want it.

Indeed but no one has asked him officially (to my knowledge) and if it came to it I'd prefer to have a proper discussion with him before giving up on a potentially excellent international coach. After all others have made similar statements in the past and subsequently taken jobs they said they weren't interested in.
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DOK

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Well, perhaps he hasn't been asked because he said he didn't want the job?

deadlyfrom5yardsout

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Its a hugely different thing being a Club DoR to being the National Team Coach. Isn't Baxter quite involved in the management structure at Chiefs as well?

 

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