COPS HUNT YOBS WHO GANGED UP ON EDDIE
POLICe are to investigate two incidents of ‘ disgusting’ verbal abuse aimed at eddie Jones after england’s Calcutta Cup defeat last weekend.
Sportsmail can reveal that a friend of england’s head coach contacted British Transport Police on Sunday evening to report that Jones was being harassed on a train from Manchester Piccadilly to London euston.
Police are also investigating an episode at Manchester’s Oxford Road Station earlier that day before Jones watched Manchester United’s 2-1 win over Chelsea.
A text-message service is in place so that victims of abuse on trains can alert the authorities, but it is understood that the friend called police directly.
The incident was not deemed severe enough to warrant stopping the train early, but officers met it at euston and questioned several passengers. There were no arrests but police will study CCTV footage.
This new detail emerged after a video of the earlier fracas was circulated on social media yesterday. The clip, taken on Sunday morning, confirms information reported exclusively in these pages by Sports Agenda.
having travelled from edinburgh in standard class to attend the Old Trafford match as a guest of Sir Alex Ferguson, Jones was asked to pose for pictures with fans.
The video shows seemingly drunken men surrounding him outside Oxford Road Station, shouting foul-mouthed abuse in the 58-year- old Australian’s face. As he attempts to enter a car, sent by United, one shouts: ‘how was last night, you baldy ****?’ in a Scottish accent.
Two men then approach the car repeating the insults, with one adding: ‘Come on the Calcutta Cup! Come on Scotland!’ waving a fist at Jones, sitting in the back seat. They then open the car door, still jeering, before a station official ushers them away.
Transport Police confirmed that no report was made to them at the time but, having studied social media, they are urging witnesses to contact them.
Jones, who looks clearly shaken, has vowed to never use public transport again after matches while the RFU is to review security.
The Scottish Rugby Union, and former Scotland players, also condemned the yobs.
Jones has said comments before Saturday’s game by former Scotland captain Gavin hastings, who said he would ‘love to rub eddie Jones’s face in the dirt’, may have incited the behaviour. hastings was unavailable for comment last night. Former Munster coach Rassie erasmus, 45, has been appointed as South Africa head coach until after the 2023 World Cup. he replaces the sacked Allister Coetzee and his first game in charge will be against Wales in Washington in June, before a threematch series against england.