Japan’s top rugby league wants to poach Harlequins fly-half Marcus Smith from England, and hopes Eddie Jones can help sanction a move.
Ambitious chairman of JRLO Genichi Tamatsuka believes the England head coach can be a ‘bridge’ to lure more stars like Smith and Maro Itoje after the 2023 World Cup.
“It’s important my friend, our friend, Eddie Jones should recommend players to go to Japan Rugby League One,” said Tamatsuka in an exlcusive interview with the I. “That’s the critical, essential, element.
“Eddie is a really great supporter for Japan and Japan Rugby League One, and the national team and so on. He is obviously quite an influential person in England rugby. And he knows very well about Japanese rugby, how we are evolving for the future.
“So if Eddie can be the kind of bridge between the England players and the Japan Rugby League, that is really good. I met him many times. I had a dinner with him. And, you know, he coached my ex-rugby team, Keio University.”
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MOST GLAMEROUS PARTNERS OF RUGBY PLAYERS
#1. Eben Etzebeth & Anlia van Rensburg
Their engagement in March coincided with her birthday on the 24th. Afterwards Anlia wrote on Instagram: “By far the BEST day of my life!. By far the BEST day of my life! Thank you for giving me an unforgettable birthday! It was a Holy moment and I do not know if I have ever been so speechless… You are just everything @ebenetzebeth4 On life with you!”