Eddie Jones’ replacement will be English - insists RFU
Rugby Football Union chief executive Bill Sweeney has revealed that an English candidate would be the overwhelming preference to replace Eddie Jones when his contract expires after the 2023 World Cup.
Twickenham has put together a “war room” where succession planning is under way with the objective of appointingthenewmanagement team next summer, ensuring they are in place in time for the 2024 Six Nations.
Expanding the number of possible English candidates – who would include Steve Borthwick, Rob Baxter and RichardCockerill–isthatthere is no pre-requisite for the new headcoachtohaveinternationalexperience.Sweeneyhasdeclinedtoprovideanynamesfor legal reasons, but the recruitment process is being conducted with the knowledge of Gallagher Premiership clubs.
“We believe we’ve got such a wealth of English coaches in the game. As a leading rugby nationweshouldbedeveloping EnglishcoachesandanEnglish style of play,” Sweeney said.
“That should be long-term and therefore the preference wouldbetohaveanEnglishsetup, as far as I’m concerned.
“There’s a very definite plan. We’ve got a war room that’s got every English coach you can imagine – based here and based internationally.
“It’s got contracts and all sorts of things. We’ve got an advanced succession plan in place.”
Jones will enter next year’s World Cup in France with the understanding that there will be no possibility of extending his reign into a ninth year and beyond. Sweeney added that the RFU has drawn up a contingency plan in the event of Jones departing between now and the World Cup.