Jones rules out taking charge of Lions
Print Edition
ENGLAND coach Eddie Jones insisted yesterday he would not be in charge of the British and Irish Lions when the combined side tours New Zealand next year.
The Australian has been touted as a candidate to lead the Lions after overseeing a dramatic transformation in England’s fortunes since the host suffered a first-round exit at last year’s World Cup.
Jones, who replaced the sacked Stuart Lancaster, guided England to a Six Nations grand slam — its first since its World Cup-winning year of 2003 when the English beat an Australia side coached by Jones in the Sydney final.
And Saturday saw England secure a first series win on Australian soil when a 23-7 win over Jones’s compatriots in Melbourne gave it an unassailable 2-0 lead in a three-match series with the Wallabies ahead of this week’s final test in Sydney.
England is now second, behind New Zealand, in the world rankings, having been eighth when Jones — who guided Japan to a stunning upset win over South Africa at the World Cup — took charge.
Jones’s coaching record saw him first linked with the Lions role back in March. But he said yesterday his commitment to England, which has now won eight tests in a row under him, and the country’s governing Rugby Football Union meant it was one he could not take up in 2017.
“I am honored to be thought of in that area but I have a massive commitment to England and the RFU and I can’t afford to spend any time away from the team,” Jones told BBC Radio. “While it might be nice to do it professionally my job is to make England the best in the world and I am going to do that 100 percent.”
New Zealand’s world champion All Blacks have long been regarded as a rugby union superpower. Next year will see the Lions bidding for just their second series win on New Zealand soil when they look to emulate the 1971 team that won a four-test campaign 2-1 with one draw.
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