Eddie stays no matter what insists RFU chief

EDDIE Jones has been given an unequivocal assurance by RFU chief executive Steve Brown that “come what may” he will remain as England head coach through to the 2019 World Cup in Japan. Brown said in an exclusive interview with The Rugby Paper that irrespective of England’s results in the imminent Autumn series, the 2019 Six Nations, or their pre-World Cup warm up internationals, Jones would be in charge for the next 12 months.

Asked what would happen if Jones lost to all three of the big Southern Hemisphere powers in a demanding Autumn itinerary which sees England play South Africa, world champions New Zealand, Japan and Australia at Twickenham on consecutive weekends in November, Brown gave Jones a ringing endorsement.

“We are not really planning it, or thinking about it, in that way,” he said. “I’ll give you a really straight answer. We are committed to Eddie being the head coach in the run up and through the World Cup in 2019. And then after that we have a whole set of decisions to make depending on how we perform.”

Brown continued: “Eddie is the head coach through this Autumn,

and into the World Cup. Then we’ve got some decisions to make, which is all part of our succession planning.”

He added: “So, that’s our commitment, come what may.”

After sustained speculation that Jones might lose the backing of the RFU following a five-match losing streak last season, Brown said: “Eddie is charged with performing and winning our Autumn internationals. That’s his job, that’s what he’s paid to do, so we are not planning to fail in that way. We are making sure he’s got everything he needs – access to players he needs – to perform and win those games.”

Jones will be at Kingsholm today to watch Gloucester kick off their Champions Cup campaign against Castres, affording fly-half Danny Cipriani one last chance to impress before the Autumn squad is announced on Thursday.

Jones did not select Cipriani in his most recent squad – for a training camp in Bristol at the end of last month – citing the playmaker’s form, then challenging Cipriani to prove him wrong before the next squad was named.

The 30-year-old was later named player of the month for September. After this weekend Jones will have studied four of Cipriani’s seven matches live. Jones will also want to look at uncapped Val Rapava Ruskin, the Georgian-born loosehead tipped to replace the retired Joe Marler.