Eddie Jones and Ben Ryan win Rugby Union Writers' Club awards

Eddie Jones and Ben Ryan win Rugby Union Writers’ Club awards

  • Eddie Jones has won the Rugby Union Writers’ Club Pat Marshall Memorial Award
  • Ben Ryan won the Special Award after coaching Fiji to their first Olympic gold medal
  • The Aussie oversaw a run of 13 successive victories, including a Grand Slam and series whitewash of Australia
England head coach Eddie Jones has won the prestigious Rugby Union Writers’ Club Pat Marshall Memorial Award as the sport’s personality of the year for 2016.

Jones was recognised at the club’s annual dinner in central London and follows in the footsteps of previous winners including the late Jonah Lomu, Jonny Wilkinson, Martin Johnson and Dan Carter.



The Australian oversaw an outstanding maiden year as England coach after masterminding a perfect run of 13 successive Test victories, including a Grand Slam and series whitewash of Australia.

Jones, who is contracted until the end of Japan 2019, took over in the wake of the 2015 World Cup debacle and has lifted England to second in the global rankings.



English coach Ben Ryan won the Special Award after coaching Fiji to their first Olympic gold medal at Rio 2016.

The award is not given out every year, only if “considered appropriate”.

The 45-year-old follows previous winners including Wilkinson and Ireland’s most-capped player, Brian O’Driscoll.