Eddie Jones commits to England by signing new contract through to 2023 World Cup
Eddie Jones has declared himself as having unfinished business with England after agreeing a contract extension as head coach to take them to the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Jones admitted he had gone into this year’s Six Nations unsure whether to carry on in the role, having guided England to last year’s World Cup Final. But the team’s performance in the postponed Six Nations, when they bounced back from an opening defeat to France to currently top the standings, persuaded him to stay at the helm for another full World Cup cycle.
“Having done the job for four years, I felt that the project hadn’t been finished yet,” he said. “There’s still a lot of growth in the team.
“The Six Nations was quite important. The last Six Nations I wanted to make sure I could still have an effect on the team and improve the team and I feel I can do that.
“It’s still a relatively young side and I feel I can add to the growth of the team. That’s the reason I’ve decided to continue and accept the kind offer from the RFU. We’ve played good rugby over the last four years and can play some even better rugby in the three years ahead.”
If Jones sees out the length of his contract, it will make him England’s longest-serving coach, replacing Sir Clive Woodward in the process. Since taking over in the wake of the 2015 World Cup, Jones has won two Six Nations titles, including the 2016 Grand Slam, sealed a 3-0 away series win in Australia and led England to an unbeaten record-equalling run of 18 matches.
He has led England on a total of 54 occasions, with a winning ratio of 78 per cent. Jones had already agreed to take a temporary 25 per cent pay cut as the RFU feel the effects of the cessation of all playing during the coronavirus pandemic, which could result in a financial black hole of £50million. And RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney said Jones remained the right choice to lead England when rugby resumes after the pandemic. “Eddie was our first choice and always has been our first choice,” he said.
But Sweeney cast doubt over England’s proposed summer tour to Japan, although he insisted the RFU would wait until the end of April to decide whether that might still go ahead.
Meanwhile, the RFU today announced the final league positions for the lower tiers. “The most fair process was to apply a formula of home and away record and then promote,” Sweeney said.
Read more
Eddie Jones: 'Players should concentrate on being better citizens'
