Eddie Jones has managed some of the biggest nations in world rugby… and that also means he’s coached the game’s very best players.
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The Aussie is a prominent figure in the world of rugby coaching, renowned for his tactical brilliance and leadership.
Born on January 30, 1960, in Australia, he has left an indelible mark on the sport. Jones gained recognition as the head coach of the England national rugby union team, guiding them to multiple Six Nations titles and a Rugby World Cup final in 2019.
His coaching journey began in the 1990s, honing his skills in Australia and later coaching teams in Japan and South Africa.
With a keen strategic mind and a passion for the game, Jones remains a respected and influential figure in international rugby.
So what does a Jones’ ‘best XV’ look like?
Eddie Jones facts:
- In 1994 Jones gave up his career as a teacher and school principal to coach his former club Randwick
- Jones previously coached Australia between 2001 and 2005, taking the team to the 2003 Rugby World Cup Final.
- He played a minimal role with South Africa when the Springboks won the 2007 Rugby World Cup and from 2012 to 2015 he coached Japan, leading them in the 2015 Rugby World Cup and their upset win over South Africa
- The hooker made three appearances for Leicester during the 1991/92 season in England
- In November 2015 Jones was appointed by Goldman Sachs Group Inc. to the bank’s advisory board in Japan
Using several interviews with various sources from down the years, we’ve formed Eddie Jones dream team of the players based on the players he bestowed with the most acclaim.
Eddie Jones Dream Team:
BACK-THREE:
- 15. Matt Burke (Australia)
- 14. Bryan Habana (South Africa)
- 11. Lote Tuqiri (Australia)
CENTRES:
- 13. Manu Tuilagi (England)
- 12. Matt Giteau (Australa)
HALFBACKS:
- Fly-half: Owen Farrell (England)
- Scrum-half: George Gregan (Australia)
Jones on Farrell ““He is the highest point scorer in the history of England rugby and he has been a colossus in the game. Because he can be seen as quite an unemotional and rigid player, he doesn’t get the praise that he should get.
“The most emotional I have seen him was after the World Cup semi-final in 2019 when he said, ‘I am so proud to be English’. You could really feel his passion and his pride and you don’t often get that with him. I think he gets a bit of a hard time for that. I 100 per cent think that there is a lack of appreciation for him.””
FRONT-ROW:
- Loosehead-prop: Mako Vunipola (England)
- Hooker: John Smit (South Africa)
- Tighthead-prop: Kyle Sinckler (England)
SECOND-ROW:
- Lock: Maro Itoje (England)
- Lock: Victor Matfield (South Africa)
BACK-ROW:
- Blindside-flanker: Schalk Burger (South Africa)
- Openside-flanker: George Smith (Australia)
- Number 8: Billy Vunipola (England)
“Re-imagination” – England handed easy pool for 2027 Rugby World Cup
The new format will feature six pools of four teams, with a round of 16 added prior to the quarter-finals.
This will enable the tournament window to be reduced from seven to six weeks, while promoting a rhythm that builds momentum across the pool phase and respects the same minimum number of rest days between matches as at France 2023.
If the 2027 Rugby World Cup Draw was made tomorrow, this is what the Pools may look like (based on rankings)
2027 Rugby World Cup draw (Current rankings)
POOL A
- South Africa
- Japan
- Georgia
- Hong Kong
POOL B
- Ireland
- Fiji
- Samoa
- Chile
