Eddie Jones

Eddie Jones

It’s official, DHL Stormers head coach for an ever so brief spell, Eddie Jones (which included no games and lasted only from 1 November to 18 November 2015, after being introduced to the SA Media on 12 November) is now the new England head coach!

The RFU have revealed that they have appointed Eddie Jones on a 4-year contract, starting in December 2015 and he will take charge of his 1st international game with England when they meet Scotland in the RBS 6 Nations at Murrayfield on 6 February 2016.

The amount the RFU had to pay to Western Province for Eddie Jones’ release is still the subject of wild speculation and varies between rumours of £ 100 000.00 (R 2.1 Million) to £ 350 000.00 ( R 7.5 Million) and even up to £ 700 000.00 (R 15 Million).

Western Province Rugby Football Union (WPRFU) have issued the following media release:

 

Media Release:

WPRFU President Mr Thelo Wakefield and WP Director of Rugby Gert Smal will host a top table press conference at DHL NEWLANDS on Friday 20 November at 11:00 SA Time.

Western Province Rugby has agreed terms with the English Rugby Football Union (RFU) which will see Eddie Jones depart to take on an international coaching post with England.

There has been plenty of speculation about Jones’s future ever since his arrival in Cape Town earlier this month and he officially received an offer on Wednesday of this week which proved impossible to turn down.

“While this is very disappointing for us all at WP Rugby and the DHL Stormers, Eddie is quite clearly the most sought-after coach in world rugby and this is the biggest and most lucrative job in international rugby,” said WPRFU President, Mr Thelo Wakefield.

“Despite all the speculation since the World Cup, and given what he achieved with Japan during RWC 2015, Eddie came to us on Wednesday with an offer from the RFU, which was simply impossible for any coach to turn down.

“It’s a big pity to lose Eddie before he has even had an opportunity to make his mark here but you cannot keep someone against his will, whilst also competing with the richest rugby union at the same time,” said Mr Wakefield.

Jones will assist Western Province Director of Rugby, Gert Smal, with on-field preparation and planning in December, with Smal now overseeing the team’s off-season programme.

“Of course it is not ideal to lose your coach before you have even begun your pre-season campaign in earnest… we are well aware of that,” said Wakefield.

Looking ahead, Director of Rugby, Smal, added: “For now, I will oversee the team’s off-season preparations. The assistant coaches, management team and playing body remain unaffected and all planning is in place.

“Amazingly enough I have already had contact from some big-name coaches (this week) and I will, once again, look both internally and externally before continuing to plot the way ahead for WP Rugby and the DHL Stormers.”

Eddie Jones commented: “When I was appointed at WP Rugby there was no vacancy within the RFU and I never envisaged this opportunity to come forward. So while I am excited about the opportunity to coach England – in arguably the biggest international coaching job in world rugby – I’m very disappointed to be leaving the DHL Stormers.

“I remain very grateful to WP Rugby for this opportunity and I would sincerely like to apologise to anyone that might have been affected by my sudden decision to leave Cape Town – the WPRFU Executive Committee, the WP Rugby Board of Directors, my fellow coaches, the players, the union’s stakeholders and the faithful, all of whom have treated me so well in my short stay.

“And while it might sound like lip-service to some I am absolutely convinced that the talent amongst the coaching and playing staff here will continue to see Western Province excel at all levels in the future.”

The DHL Stormers are currently in the conditioning phase of their off-season programme, with the players training until mid-December before taking a proper pre-season holiday.

The squad will reconvene for pre-season training in early January 2016, with the DHL Stormers’ 2016 Vodacom Super Rugby season getting underway against the Vodacom Bulls on 27 February.

 

Eddie Jones apologises to the Stormers:

 

Eddie Jones on getting the England job:

 


David Campese’s scathing critisism of Eddie Jones’ appointment:

Eddie Jones has been described as “1 of the top 6 coaches in the world” by rugby commentator Ian Robertson – but a “school teacher” by former Australia captain David Campese.

Jones, 55, has become England’s new head coach following talks with the Rugby Football Union on Thursday.

Appointed as successor to Stuart Lancaster, the Australian is the 2003 World Cup winners’ 1st foreign coach.
Jones recently criticised the Six Nations for being “a dour affair” that is “built on the foundation of not allowing the opposition to score points”

However, Campese suggests Jones’ playing style and approach is far more conservative and the ex-Australia skipper said:”You’re going to find very structured play and he’s going to have the players that do what he tells them to do. It is a robotic style. The whole idea about rugby is playing on the field and entertaining people and getting people to come and watch the game. I think that Eddie will do the job, you’ll win, but it’s not going to be the fanciest style of rugby.”

The taunts continued as Campese says opting for a foreign coach like Jones, who he feels is no improvement on Lancaster, shows that England are “desperate”.

He suggests the RFU should have looked at home-grown candidates like former England international and Newcastle director of rugby Dean Richards.

“I don’t think they should have stuck with Stuart Lancaster because he’s a school teacher. Unfortunately rugby is a professional sport and we don’t need school teachers. I think Eddie is 1 as well,” he said.

“You’ve got a guy called Dean Richards. A guy like that played for England, great player, gone through the system, apparently he’s a very good coach. Why can’t you employ someone like that? Then you get a structure underneath.

“Don’t you want an Englishman to coach an English team and win the World Cup?

“It obviously shows that after the World Cup you guys are lost. You’ve got all the money in the world and all the players and you’ve still got no idea how to play the game.

“It looks like you’re desperate and will just pay the money to get somebody who you think is going to help you.”

 

adapted from bbc

29 Responses to It’s Official – Eddie Jones is the new England coach

  • 1

    Bully,

    I removed your article about Campese and Eddie Jones and simply added it to the bottom of this one… can’t have too many of the same thing going, if you understand what I mean!

    Not that the contents was unimportant, I just added it to this one…

  • 2

    “I don’t think they should have stuck with Stuart Lancaster because he’s a school teacher. Unfortunately rugby is a professional sport and we don’t need school teachers. I think Eddie is 1 as well,” – David Campese.

    Campese does not exactly cover himself with glory by making such a comment as the most successful coach in rugby history Graham Henry was also a schoolteacher.

  • 3

    @ robzim:
    As was Jake, and he hasn’t done too badly for himself.

    Even Doc Craven can be described as a teacher can’t he?

  • 4

    Good luck Eddie.

    Can’t really say we know precisely what we Stormers are missing, as we never saw him coach a game for us.

    Even with Eddie in charge I still can’t see a SA side winning the SR over the Kiwis, so I doubt it would really have made such a difference

  • 5

    @ grootblousmile:
    Ah ok no worries just had a look now and thought gremlins have struck. Just need to tidy up the last bit with the characters from text view in there.

  • 6

    2 @ robzim:
    Hi robzim fully agree with you there, shows complete disregard for people who have an important role to play. He is also quite vocal about the ‘foreign’ issue as he was around the time Robbie Deans was on his way out of the Aus job, think he was saying they could only have an Aussie as their coach and think he referred to Mickey Arthur with their cricket. Wonder what the history between Jones and Campese is.

  • 7

    So the Storm Boys lose Judas Jones,
    did you fukkers even get a kiss on the cheek?

    But you may get Mitch.
    Mitch, sacked by the NZRFU.
    Mitch, forbidden to speak to his players at the Western Force.
    Mitch, sacked by the Lions.

    Mitch, with a head like a baboons arse,
    with the Man Management skills of Joe Stalin.

    Mitch a good Assistant Coach?……………………. yes, for sure, one of the best………………………………..but under NO circumstances give him control.

    Mitch has worked in Europe, Oceania and Australasia……………………………………….and is not welcome back in any of these Rugby enviroments. He is fast running out of Continents to ply his occupation. Africa is his last hope.

    The writer of a Soap Opera couldn’t write a better looming disaster the this one.

    Hold on to your seats Storm Boys………………………………this is gunna be a rough ride………………………………should be fun though.

    😯

  • 8

    6 @ Bullscot:
    Campese always tries to be controvertial somehow… how many times now has he stepped a foot into something?

    Was a good rugby player, but it is my opinion that he is a bit of a blabbermouth with an inflated opinion of himself.

  • 9

    7 @ cane:
    My feelings exactly too, Mainstay Cane!

    Your thoughts are quite sober today… must be the weather or something!

    Hehehehe

    Happy-Grin

    He also left Sale Sharks in the lurch and left them for “Personal Reasons”.

  • 11

  • 12

    I see Mitch has also put feelers out for the vacant USA Eagles coaching position.

  • 13

    11 @ grootblousmile:
    Hoesit, he also has a loose wire from his brain to his mouth

    Weary

  • 14

    @ Bullscot:
    @ robzim:

    While Campo may not always be right. Or even consistant.
    He is one of those rare people in “The Rugby World” (as we know it)…………………………………..who actually says, what he thinks. A very rare human being. And I love him for it.

    Imagine if Eddie Jones actually said what he thought………………………………………”Well fu*k You Stormers, I’m outa here, the climates good ……………………..but the money’s crap, and good luck with Mitch, you’ll need it.”

  • 15

    @ grootblousmile:
    I’d like to see Mitch get The Eagles job.

    North America………………………..another he will be able to strike off his list.

    😈

  • 16

    @ cane:

    I read today that Mitch is currently also employed as a CEO of a manufacturing company and he has said that his involvement in business has changed him for the better as a person.

    So, cut the bloke some slack..we all make mistakes and some of us learn from it.. maybe he has too..

  • 17

    15 @ cane:
    The only continents which will then remain for Mitch, after North America… would be South America, Europe & Asia… plus a few Island nations of course… hehehe

  • 18

    16 @ robzim:
    Maybe one should ask some of the employees if his management style has changed!

    Leopard… spots.. that type of thing… you know.

  • 19

    So Jake the Snake’s attitude rubbed off on old Eddie Moans. Would love to see how the Poms handle him.

  • 20

    @ robzim:

    “I read today that Mitch is currently………………………………….”

    Don’t believe everything you read Robby.

    But hey, he couldn’t get any worse, so you could be right.

    😛

  • 21

    I’ve added a Video clip from Eddie Jones, explaining his move!

  • 22

    “I’m an Aussie now, mate.”

    The snake to an Aussie journalist about three months before he stabbed the Brumbies in the back.

  • 23

    Check here, this is Eddie Jones in and out at the Stormers!

    Eddei Jones in and out

  • 24

    Another Eddie Jones video added in the article… on his appointment as England coach!

  • 25

    @ cane:
    It would seem Mr Mitchell isn’t on your Christmas card list Pondering

  • 26

    Must be a bit dozy, just read a headline from a story from yesterday “Stormers mum on Jones’ departure” and first thing thought was who is Stormers mum? I-see-stars

  • 27

    Bullscot wrote:

    who is Stormers mum?

    This lady?

    Attachment:

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