Carling to help build bridge to ‘great past’
WILL Carling is to join England’s management team this autumn as a mentor to senior players as Eddie Jones seeks to build a bridge to the nation’s ‘great past’.
Carling starts the part-time role next week and has been given the brief of developing the skills of the leadership group spearheaded by co-captains Dylan Hartley and Owen Farrell.
It is a surprise move by Jones, who believes the experience accumulated during 59 appearances as England skipper in a reign that produced three Grand Slams and a World Cup runners-up medal will be of benefit.
Jones has frequently identified inadequate ‘leadership density’ as one of the shortcomings of his squad.
If the appointment proves a success, Carling’s involvement could extend until Japan 2019.
“I have met Will continuously over the last two years and I think he can add value to the senior players in the squad with his experience,” Jones aid. “He joins the great past of England to the present. It is a similar thing to what the All Blacks have done with great players and I think Will can play that role for us.
“Will is bit of a specialist in leadership. He understands what made English rugby great so combining the skill of leadership with the knowledge of English history is a nice resource for us to have.”
The Australian continued: “I’ve thought about doing this all along, particularly because I’m not English.”