Eddie has hopes of Euros lift
EDDIE JONES says a successful Euros for England’s footballers could help return his rugby team to winning ways.
The Red Rose brigade are smarting from their worst ever Six Nations campaign, beaten by each of the home unions for the first time since 1976.
Two years out from the World Cup and with a dozen of his stars away with the British and Irish Lions, Jones needs to change the mood music in the summer Tests against USA and Canada.
He believes the footballers can help by creating a feelgood factor.
Jones said: “I don’t have any evidence, but sometimes you can get a run where rugby does well, football does well, cricket does well, and it seems to be all going well for the country.
“And then, conversely, you go through the other
period. Just like winning is contagious, so is losing.
“It’s a great moment for national teams because you’ve got the Olympics, the Euros, the Lions, the Test cricket against New Zealand – a lot for fans to get excited about.”
England play the USA on the Sunday following the Euros quarter-finals on July 2 and 3. Canada come to Twickenham on July 10, the day before Wembley hosts the Euros final, just 12 miles up the road.
“We’re excited, we’re going to be back at Twickenham with fans, and we’ve seen in club games how good that can be,” added Jones. “The atmosphere over the last three or four weeks has been fantastic.
“There were 3,600 at Leicester a week ago and they must’ve drunk 3,600 times five pints, because at the end of the game it sounded like a full house.
“You can see how people are so enthusiastic about supporting games live.”