Scottish Rugby says appalled by Eddie Jones verbal abuse
ENGLAND head coach Eddie Jones says he was physically and verbally abused on his way back from Scotland and will no longer travel by public transport.
The Australian travelled alone in standard class on the 9.15am train from Edinburgh to Manchester Oxford Road last Sunday after England’s 25-13 defeat.
Jones was verbally abused outside the station after posing for a picture.
A man then opened the door of Jones’ car to direct further abuse before the driver and another man intervened.
British Transport Police (BTP) told BBC Sport it received a report of a further incident as Jones travelled on the train from Manchester to London later that day.
Officers met the train at Euston, after a report of verbal abuse towards a man on board. No arrests were made but enquiries continue.
Virgin Trains said it would “cooperate fully” with the BTP in any investigation.
Speaking on Wednesday, about using public transport, Jones said: “I’ll make sure I won’t in future. It’s as simple as that.”
It is not clear whether the men who confronted Jones outside Oxford Road station — shown in a video obtained by BBC sports editor Dan Roan — were rugby supporters.
Scottish Rugby said on Thursday it was “appalled” by the verbal abuse suffered by the England head coach.
“The disgusting behaviour of those involved does not represent the values of our sport or its fans,” it said in a statement. “The dignity Eddie and the England team showed on Saturday is in stark contrast to this ugly incident.”
Jones claims comments made by Scotland great Gavin Hastings did not help.
Former Scotland and Lions captain Hastings, who won 67 international caps, said opposing supporters of Jones’ team wanted to “rub his face in the dirt”.
“I’m a human being. I don’t consider myself any different from anyone else, so for me to travel on public transport I thought was OK,” added Jones.
“I can’t because it was shown what happens when I do. That’s the world we live in. I was massively surprised. It wasn’t comfortable.”