SRU CONDEMN SCOTS LOUTS WHO ABUSED JONES

SCOTTISH Rugby have condemned the ‘disgusting’ behaviour that saw England head coach Eddie Jones abused on his journey south after his team’s Calcutta Cup defeat to Scotland. Jones complained of being verbally abused on the early train to Manchester on Sunday morning as he travelled from Edinburgh to be a guest of Sir Alex Ferguson at the Manchester United v Chelsea match. Video footage shows him being surrounded by a number of Scottish louts outside the city’s Oxford Road station, where a car was waiting to pick him up. Jones revealed he would reconsider using public transport in future, after what started as a selfie session with the offenders turned ugly and foul-mouthed abuse was directed at the Australian. The SRU moved swiftly to denounce the scenes, saying: ‘Scottish Rugby is appalled by the verbal abuse suffered by Eddie Jones. The disgusting behaviour of those involved does not represent the values of our sport or its fans.’ After the video of the Manchester incident went viral on Twitter, former Scotland players voiced their outrage. Craig Chalmers, who won 61 caps for Scotland and the Lions, wrote: ‘This is disgraceful from these Scotsmen in Manchester. These idiots do not represent the Scottish rugby public.’ Meanwhile Sportsmail understands that a second incident of verbal abuse aimed at Jones is also being investigated by British Transport Police. A friend of the England boss, not a passenger, contacted the police on Sunday evening to report the fact that Jones was being verbally harassed in standard class on a train from Manchester Piccadilly to London Euston. A discreet text-message service is in place so that victims of abuse on trains can alert the authorities, but it is understood that Jones’ friend called the transport police directly to raise the issue between 7-7.30pm. Officers then met the train at Euston and questioned several passengers. After it became clear none were aware of any trouble, no arrests were made and they were allowed to continue their journeys. However an investigation is still ongoing, and police will now review CCTV footage.