Eddie Jones future remains in doubt with no progress on new contract, confirms RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney
England head coach is only contracted to the Rugby Football Union for the next two years and has so far not indicated any intention to remain in the job through to the 2023 Rugby World Cup
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Eddie Jones' future as England head coach beyond 2021 remains uncertain after Rugby Football Union chief executive Bill Sweeney placed the prospect of an extended contract in doubt.
Sweeney stated after England had finished World Cup runners-up that it would make "sense" to retain Jones until France 2023, adding that talks would be held "as a matter of urgency" upon their return from Japan.
A two-day tournament debrief was "overwhelmingly positive" in tone, but Sweeney is now in less haste to extend Jones' current deal, which has two years left to run.
"Eddie and I have sat down and talked on a number of occasions," Sweeney said.
"We continue to discuss it but at the moment he's fully committed to seeing out the contract until 2021 and we'll take it from there. We're chatting about it.
"We'll do whatever we think ... Reading the media over the last six weeks, the camps are pretty split.
"Some are saying don't rush into anything, just stay with 2021. Other people are saying you should really do a four-year until France 2023.
"We'll do whatever we think is right for England rugby and it's got to work for both sides.
"Eddie is committed to seeing out his contract so there's no looming deadline when we'll feel we need to make a pressing decision."
The post-World Cup debrief took place on November 14 and 15, was chaired by former Minister for Sport Sir Hugh Robertson and included feedback from 27 of the 32 players used in Japan.
"We had one member of the previous review committee following 2015. We had a recently retired England player, a well-respected coach, a board member and myself," Sweeney said.
"It included Eddie, all the coaching staff, all the operations staff. We had a working dinner. As you'd expect having reached the final, it was overwhelmingly positive.
"There was nothing that came out of it that was a fundamental miss or anything that needs to be changed."
PA
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments