Jones open to England TV documentary series that could boost RFU finances
Eddie Jones is willing to risk exposing England’s secrets in a documentary after the coach gave his blessing for a potential TV series that could lead to a multimillion pound boost for the cashstrapped Rugby Football Union.
Jones admitted he would be comfortable with a documentary, similar to Amazon Prime’s All or Nothing series which has featured Manchester City and the All Blacks in the past, with another showcasing Tottenham due to be released this year. A documentary following the Australian cricket team also proved a recent hit. Last month Northampton also announced plans to produce a documentary series.
During last year’s World Cup, England produced an in-house series that was popular with supporters but giving an external crew access may expose some of Jones’s hitherto unseen methods. The former New Zealand coach Steve Hansen conceded “there was a lot of debate” around their series, adding: “You don’t want to tell the world all your secrets.”
Jones is usually guarded over what he allows to be seen in training, previously suggesting Warren Gatland had planted a staff member in the crowd when England hosted an open session at Twickenham, and claiming his side were spied on in the buildup tobefore the World Cup semi-final win over New Zealand.
The financial benefits would be clear, with the RFU forecasting losses of up to £107m on top of the £15m hit it has already taken because of the pandemic. Last week the union announced it was planning 139 redundancies while executives, as well as Jones, have accepted 25% pay cuts. Industry insiders do not believe the RFU could command the same £10m fee as leading Premier League teams but a sizeable cash injection would be welcomed. It is understood the union has discussed proposals over a series and remains open to the prospect.
“Would I allow a crew into the team room? Under the right circumstances,”
Jones said. “Because our players are quite used to that now. We did a version of it through the RFU during the World Cup. The reason teams do it generally is for a business issue. If the RFU decide they wanted to do that, given the right circumstances surrounding how the filming would take place, I wouldn’t have a problem with it.”
Jones has called for consultation with the Premiership clubs to address the gruelling 12-month schedule facing England players. The Premiership is to resume in mid-August with nine rounds plus the play-offs and European
fixtures to factor in. The following domestic season is to begin during a bumper autumn fixture list and run straight through the Six Nations, meaning a year of non-stop rugby for England players picked for the British & Irish Lions tour of South Africa.
Jones, who revealed he has kept himself busy during lockdown by picking the brains of coaches from other sports including Gareth Southgate, Dave Brailsford and Justin Langer, told the BBC: “We can’t expect the players to play this season, play internationals and then go straight into another club season, and then potentially go on a Lions tour. It’s a job for the administrators to work out how to find the right balance.”
Jones will at least be helped by the fact his captain, Owen Farrell, is the latest of Saracens’ senior England players to commit to the club despite their relegation to the Championship. The England coach said he has no qualms about selecting Farrell and co despite Saracens playing in the second tier - an apparent change of tune, having previously suggested reluctance, prompting Mark Wilson’s loan move from Newcastle to Sale. It has also been reported one or two may have a brief spell in Super Rugby.
Saracens’ England players are unlikely to feature regularly in the Championship and it is believed Jones will have greater access to them compared with Premiership players. “I will be comfortable if they are in good form,” said Jones.
“Without wishing to sound too grandiose iIf I look at Owen Farrell it does not matter what game he plays, I will have a pretty good understanding of where he is.”
Jones said he has held talks with the RFU’s chief executive, Bill Sweeney, over England’s plans for the 2023 World Cup after it emerged the elite men’s programme - which ran over budget by £900,000 for the tournament in Japan will not be immune from cuts. He said: “Obviously there is some investment we need to make but we’ll wait to see how things translate.”