England want Jones for next World Cup

CHRIS FOY

EDDIE JONES will be offered the chance to continue as England head coach until the next World Cup. While the Australian is contracted until the summer of 2021, his future beyond that time is unclear and Jones (below) repeatedly dismissed enquiries on the subject by saying it is not his decision to make. It is a decision for the RFU’s chief executive, Bill Sweeney, and he has emphatically endorsed Jones to remain in charge of England. Asked if he wanted to extend the Australian’s tenure until the next World Cup, Sweeney said: ‘It makes sense, doesn’t it? If you’re going to go through to France 2023, it’s nice to have that unbroken stretch, but both parties have got to be happy with it. ‘I think he’s done a fantastic job. Look where we were four years ago. He’s unearthed some fantastic players who have huge careers ahead with England. He gets on well with the squad, he’s committed to England rugby, so I think he’s got an awful lot more to offer yet. ‘I don’t think he’ll just phase himself out purely on the two-year basis. We need to sit down when we get back and chat about where it goes. We will do it as a matter of urgency.’ Since England thrashed the Wallabies in their quarter-final showdown in Oita, there has been strong speculation in Australia that the country’s union will seek to bring Jones home for another stint in charge of the national team he guided to the World Cup final in 2003. Sweeney is aware of the potential for such competing offers, but he is confident of retaining the 59-year-old. ‘He’s one of the world’s best coaches, if not the best coach, despite the result yesterday,’ he said. ‘When you’re in that position, you’re going to have people sniffing around and you can imagine the story Australia would put together. ‘We can only control our relationship with him. I don’t lose any sleep over other countries thinking about him.’