Eddie Jones will step down as Japan’s coach at the end of the 2015 Rugby World Cup. The Australian’s contract will expire at the end of this year and it will not be renewed, meaning that Japan will have to appoint a new coach to oversee the countries new Super Rugby franchise.
Jones confirmed last week that he was in talks to coach Super Rugby club Stormers, but the 55-year-old denied that he has signed a deal with the Cape Town club. The former Australia coach told Kyodo that his contract in Japan would not be renewed when it expires at the end of the year.
“The (Japan Rugby Football) Union are going to announce this afternoon that I will not be continuing after 2015,”Jones said.
“That was always the case as my contract was until the end of the year, so all they are doing is stating the obvious.
“People assumed that as I had been named the director of the new Super Rugby side I would stay on. But that was just an administrative role not a coaching role. All I was doing was help get it set up.”
Jones leaving Japan will be a big shame for the countries players and fans, after leading them to a very successful World Cup qualification campaign beating South Korea, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong and the Philippines with a +309 points difference. Jones will no doubt fire up the Japanese team for the World Cup though, and expect to see the Japanese giving their all to overcome South Africa, Samoa, Scotland and U.S.A in a tricky pool B.
Jones is no stranger to Rugby’s top competition either, after guiding Australia to the final in 2003. But he eventually missed out on getting his hands on the Webb Ellis Cup after a dramatic loss to England in the final.
