Jones selfisolating as Covid hits staff

LONDON: Coach Eddie Jones has been forced to selfisolate after his assistant, Matt Proudfoot, tested positive for Covid19 as England’s Six Nations Championship defence suffered further disruption.

It is the second time in three days that England’s key Australian personnel have been affected by coronavirus after Jones’s compatriot and skills coach Jason Ryles announced on Tuesday he would not be available for the championships.

Proudfoot was diagnosed with coronavirus following Tuesday’s testing and, as part of contact tracing protocols, Jones and his attack coach, Simon Amor, have to quarantine for 10 days.

If the next test reveals the outbreak is limited to Proudfoot, who is not displaying any symptoms, Jones will join up with the squad at St George’s Park next Friday.

Ryles, whose work has been praised by Jones and England’s players since he joined them after helping the Melbourne Storm to glory in the NRL, has chosen not to travel from Australia to London with his family due to the lockdown in place in the UK.

To plug the gap left by his absence, Jones has appointed Ed Robinson, son of the former England and Scotland coach Andy Robinson, to oversee skills training for the duration of the Six Nations.

‘‘Ed is a talented young coach and will work to help the players improve. We understand and support Jason’s decision and are expecting that he will be back with us this summer,’’ Jones said.

The head coach will name his 28man party for the Six Nations tomorrow as scheduled and his management team is continuing to work virtually, with the opener against Scotland on February 6 looming.

Of Jones’ frontline staff, only defence coach, New Zealander John Mitchell, is not currently affected by Covid19.

Unless the outbreak spreads, England should face minimal complications ahead of the Calcutta Cup showdown at Twickenham due to the timing of Proudfoot’s positive test.

Six Nations organisers are confident the tournament will take place as scheduled, despite misgivings from the French government over France travelling to Dublin and London for away matches. — BPA