Japan coach Eddie Jones to step down after World Cup
All Black Mealamu plots final title tilt
TOKYO: Japan coach Eddie Jones will step down after the Rugby World Cup to take on a “different challenge”, the Japan Rugby Football Union announced yesterday.
The organisation said the 55-year-old Australian, who has been the Brave Blossoms’ coach since 2012, will resign on Nov 1. His contract was due to expire this year.
The decision was approved by the group’s board of directors, with Jones also to quit as the director of rugby at Japan’s new Super Rugby side.
A new coach will be chosen after the World Cup starting next month, when Japan will accelerate their preparations to host the tournament in 2019.
“I believe the Japan team will further evolve towards the 2019 World Cup with an excellent coach,” Jones said in a Japaneselanguage statement.
“I will be taking on a different challenge, but the Japan team will always remain in my heart.
“I want to make this year’s World Cup a completion of my job as head coach,” he added.
Last week reports said Jones had agreed a two-year deal starting in 2016 with South Africa’s Western Stormers, and that the coach had acknowledged talks with the team.
Jones told Kyodo News agency that he had moved to end rumours and speculation about his future.
“I will not be continuing after 2015,” he told the agency in southern Japan, where the team is in training camp.
“That was always the case as my contract was until the end of the year, so all they are doing is stating the obvious.”
JRFU general secretary Noriyuki Sakamoto said it was Jones who approached his organisation about the resignation.
“We’ve made a great deal of progress under Eddie Jones. We’ve beaten strong nations and showed Japan’s true value in doing so,” Sakamoto told Kyodo.
“We had the overture from the head coach and accepted it as he was resolute in his decision.”
“We’d like to show our gratitude and respect to Jones for contributing to the development of Japanese rugby over the past four years. We wish him all the best in his challenge in the World Cup, to reach our target of the quarter-finals.”
Jones took over from All Blacks legend John Kirwan in April 2012. He earlier guided Australia to the 2003 World Cup final, which they lost to England.
Jones, who is half-Japanese, also served as adviser to South Africa when they won the World Cup in 2007.
Jones suffered a stroke while Japan coach in 2013, but he made a full recovery and has overseen a drastic improvement in their fortunes.
Last year the Brave Blossoms broke into the world’s top 10 after 10 straight wins culminating in victory over Six Nations side Italy.
At next month’s World Cup in England, Japan will be aiming to improve a poor record at the tournament where their only win so far was against Zimbabwe in 1991.
Meanwhile, veteran All Black hooker Keven Mealamu confirmed yesterday that he will hang up his boots after this year’s World Cup, saying he plans to become a “rugby ambassador” in New Zealand.
The 36-year-old warhorse has so far played 126 Tests and was widely expected to retire after helping New Zealand’s title defence in England.
Mealamu said he had accepted an ambassadorial role with New Zealand Rugby focusing on Auckland, where he racked up the bulk of his competitionrecord 175 Super Rugby appearances with the Blues.
“I’ve loved my time as a rugby player here in New Zealand and loved being part of all the teams I have represented, particularly the All Blacks,” he said.
“While there’s a little bit more I want to achieve this year before I hang up my boots, it’s cool to know that I am going to be still involved in rugby in this new role.”
Mealamu, who is of Samoan descent, is expected to mentor Pacific players in Auckland’s large islander community.
While a bruising opponent on the field, Mealamu has a reputation as a gentle giant away from the game, including illustrating several children’s books for charity.