WIN CUP - OR ELSE

Ed must be big in Japan after penning new deal

EDDIE JONES signed a two-year contract extension until 2021 yesterday – but the England coach knows he faces the sack if he does not win the World Cup.

Jones was due to step down after Japan 2019 but Red Rose chiefs have moved to keep him on board after seeing him mastermind a remarkable run of 22 wins from 23 Tests.

However his new deal includes a get-out clause if England perform as badly at Japan 2019 as they did under Stuart Lancaster in the 2015 World Cup on home soil.

New RFU chief executive Steve Brown said: “Focus completely is on winning the Rugby World Cup.

“Eddie and I have had discussions and we’re really clear about what that break clause means if we don’t succeed in 2019.”

Jones said: “I’m delighted to extend, it’s quite exciting. The team has got great potential and what I’d ® also like to be involved in is creating a sustainably successful team. The first priority is to win the World Cup and after that making sure the guy who is going to take over has a good team to be involved in.

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“It’s quite a unique situation in world rugby to be able to do this and I’m delighted to be able to take a part in this process.”

The RFU want Jones’ replacement to be in place by the 2019-20 season so he can work in tandem with the Australian and learn the ropes ahead of the 2023 World Cup.

Rob Baxter, the Exeter director of rugby, is currently flavour of the month after winning the Premiership last season and toured with England – to Argentina in 2013 – under Lancaster.

Jones has also been given the green light to coach the British and Irish Lions on their 2021 tour to South Africa if the role is offered to him and Warren Gatland decides against a third stint in charge. Wasps flanker James Haskell will miss the first two matches of England’s Six Nations defence next month. He has been banned for four weeks for a reckless tackle on Jamie Roberts, of Harlequins, during Saturday’s European Champions Cup defeat.