Showing posts with label 2019 Rugby World Cup. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2019 Rugby World Cup. Show all posts

Friday, 20 November 2015

Welcome to England Mr Jones


Eddie Jones has been appointed as England's new rugby union head coach on a four-year contract.

The Australian will start work as Stuart Lancaster's successor in December ahead of the Six Nations and becomes the first non-Englishman to take the job.

Jones led Australia to the 2003 World Cup final and was part of the South Africa staff for their 2007 success, and he made headlines at the recent tournament in England by masterminding Japan's shock win over the Springboks.

The 55-year-old's appointment means he leaves a role with Western Province's Super Rugby side the Stormers without taking charge of a single game.

"Firstly my thanks must go to [chief executive] Rob Wagner and everyone at Western Province Rugby for understanding my decision and allowing me to return to the international stage so quickly," Jones said. 

Sean Fitzpatrick says Eddie Jones should surround himself with English coaches

"The opportunity to take the reins in, possibly, the world's most high profile international rugby job doesn't come along every day however, and I feel fortunate to be given the opportunity.

"I'm now looking forward to working with the RFU and the players to move beyond the disappointment England suffered at the World Cup and hope to build a new team that will reflect the level of talent that exists within the English game. I believe the future is bright for England."

Rugby Football Union chief executive Ian Ritchie said: "We promised to recruit a coach with proven international experience and we have done that. 

"Eddie is a world-class coach, with extensive experience at the highest level with Australia, South Africa and Japan.

Will Greenwood says Eddie Jones has landed a 'plum job' with England

"We believe that the appointment, which was unanimously approved by the RFU board, is the right one to bring England success in the short, medium and long term.

"We are confident Eddie can build on the strong foundations already laid, with this talented group of players largely remaining together through to the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan and beyond. We are grateful to the Stormers for their co-operation in releasing Eddie early from his contract."


Friday, 10 October 2014

Singapore Look to Lions Tour


Singapore is in discussions over staging a British & Irish Lions tour match, international Tests and a leg of the rugby sevens series at its new $1bn Sports Hub as part of efforts to become a home away from home for the sport’s biggest names.

International Rugby Board officials gathered in the wealthy southeast Asian city-state this week for their annual meeting, with IRB President Bernard Lapasset leading the praise of Singapore’s new 55,000 National Stadium.

The facility, which can host cricket, rugby, soccer and athletics events, is the centrepiece of a project which Singapore hopes can transform it into a sporting capital.

The Brazilian football team will play Japan in a glamour friendly at the stadium on Tuesday, while the top eight women’s tennis players will compete in Singapore at the WTA Finals for the first time later this month. Now rugby also wants a piece of the pie.

“Our role now is to open the door for Asia, with more expansion for rugby,” Lapasset said. “Singapore is a fantastic city and they already have a lot of big events and rugby should be a part of that.

“Whether it’s the Sevens World Series, Olympic qualifiers or World Cup warm-up games, there are many opportunities in the coming years for Singapore to be a major player in the rugby world.”

Singapore and Japan will find out next month who has been selected to become the 18th team to join Super Rugby, with the IRB “very excited” that two Asian bids are being considered by the competition’s governing body, SANZAR.

Japan appears to be ahead in the race after making a concession to host some matches in Singapore should they win the bid.

But that willingness to share does not extend to the 2019 World Cup, the IRB CEO, Brett Gosper, said, dampening speculation that Singapore or Hong Kong could host games when Japan stages rugby’s biggest tournament.

“It would have been nice on a number of levels but it’s been brought back into being an all-Japan operation … but I would say it is a terrific destination for warm-up matches ahead of 2019,” Gosper said.

Singapore will showcase itself as a destination next month when it hosts a fixture between the Asia Pacific Dragons and the New Zealand Maori.

The Dragons are an invitational side, made up mainly of Pacific Islander players, which Singapore is proposing for the 18th Super Rugby berth.

Singapore also hosted an international rugby 10s tournament in June, the first event at the National Stadium but it wants to play a bigger role in world rugby.

It is in the hunt to host the 2018 World Cup rugby sevens tournament, while discussions were held this week on the possibility of hosting one of three new stops proposed on the sevens series, as well as a Lions fixture.

The Lions played the opening match of their 2013 tour of Australia in Hong Kong, the Asian home of main sponsors HSBC and also the headquarters of the Asian Rugby Football Union. The Lions’ next tour is not until 2017 in New Zealand.