[ad_1]
England’s players are poised to have a meaningful voice on whether Eddie Jones keeps his job as head coach with the team invited to give his opinion on the dismal Six Nations campaign as part of the Rugby Football Union review.
Jones is expected to know their fate next week when the RFU completes its investigation, led by CEO Bill Sweeney, into England’s fifth place in the Six Nations that has seen them slide to fourth in the world rankings. Sweeney heads a panel that will likely also include the union’s chief performance officer, Conor O’Shea, and may also include former England players. Jones began his own report with his veteran players and coaches on Sunday and will present his findings to Sweeney and the panel.
The review is expected to take up to 10 days to complete and it is understood that players will also have the opportunity to offer their views on a campaign in which England lost to Scotland, Wales and Ireland for the first time in 46 years. This is the second time that England have finished fifth in the Six Nations with Jones and as a result of the last campaign, they are under increasing pressure, despite having led England to a World Cup final less than 18 months.
Jones has a break clause in his contract that ensures that while he is the highest paid coach in the world, it would not be prohibitively expensive for the RFU, which anticipates losses of up to £ 35 million this year, to part with him sooner. his contract expires after the 2023 World Cup.
A review of the 2019 World Cup was chaired by former Sports Minister Hugh Robertson and then Sweeney revealed how 27 of the 32 players had given comments that were said to be “overwhelmingly positive.” After Saturday’s 32-18 loss, two of Jones’s senior players, Maro Itoje and Mako Vunipola, gave him their full support to stay and guide England to the 2023 World Cup. However, behind closed doors, team members, including those who do not consider themselves among Jones’ “Undroppables,” may offer their opinions, most likely in groups rather than in anonymous polls.
Speaking after England’s defeat in Dublin, Jones expressed confidence that he could turn England’s fortunes, just as he did after fifth place in the Six Nations in 2018, but admitted that his fate is finally out of his hands. When asked if he was still the right man to lead England on, Jones said: “That is not the question at the moment. The question at this point is that we need to play better. That’s for other people to respond, not for me to respond. “
Meanwhile, Sweeney will present evidence Tuesday to the sports, media and digital culture selection committee as part of the government’s investigation into concussion in sport. Former England international Dan Scarbrough has exclusively revealed to The Guardian that he is joining the group of retired players taking legal action against the RFU, the Welsh Rugby Union and World Rugby, having been diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries. Scarbrough has been diagnosed with early-onset dementia and probable chronic traumatic encephalopathy.
The Breakdown – Sign up and receive our weekly rugby union email.
World Rugby Medical Director Éanna Falvey will also provide evidence, as will former England scrum half and World Cup winner Kyran Bracken and John Fairclough, on behalf of Progressive Rugby, a newly formed lobby group. calling for urgent reforms to rugby. Union. When it launched last month, the group described its concerns for the sport which it describes as “threatened with extinction within a couple of generations” in an open letter to World Rugby president Bill Beaumont.
Sean Maitland is a notable absentee from Scotland’s 29-man squad to face France on Friday after it emerged that there was a limit to the number of English Premiership players Gregor Townsend could select. The delayed match takes place outside of the official testing window, so Premiership clubs were under no obligation to release them. A financial deal was reached over the weekend, but Townsend selected only five Premiership players, including his captain Stuart Hogg, with some leaving the team. That is unlikely to please Wales, who will be crowned absolute champions if France fail to beat Scotland with a bonus point and by a 21-point margin.
