The new Japanese Super Rugby franchise’s Director of Rugby Eddie Jones is expected
to jump ship and join the Stormers in Cape Town according to reports.
The former Australia and Springbok assistant coach Jones will be unveiled as
the new Stormers Super Rugby coach next week.
Reports in South Africa state that Jones who has been appointed as the Director
of Rugby for the new Japanese Super Rugby side will replace Allister Coetzee
as the Stormers coach for next season.
While the announcement will be a big boost for the Stormers it would be a catastrophic
blow for the Japan side who are struggling to sign players for next season.
The move will leave the struggling new Super Rugby side without a leader and
when they need it most they will lose one who has vast experience in Super Rugby
having coached the Brumbies and the Reds at Super Rugby level.
The un-named Japan Super Rugby side had planned to name their Super Rugby squad
in June but reports from Asia are that they have only signed two players.
Six players from the Japan international side are already playing Super Rugby
but they are choosing to stay with foreign teams instead of playing for their
home team.
Keita Inagaki, Michael Leitch, Kotaro Matsushima, Fumiaki Tanka, Hendrik Tui
and Akihito Yamada – all played Super Rugby this season.
New Zealand Leitch who is also Japan’s captain has chosen to to stay with the
Chiefs while Tui, the New Zealand-born Japanese test No 8 has re-signed with
the Reds.
According to the Cape Times Jones will become the highest-paid coach
in South African rugby at R5 million (USD 387000) a year.
Ironically Jones will move to Cape Town to replace Allister Coetzee who has
moved to Japan to coach the Kobelco Steelers.
Jones has a a Rugby World cup winners medal (2007) and a Rugby World Cup runners
up medal (2003) and has also won a Super Rugby title with the Brumbies.
While Jones will obviously have to quit his job as Director of Rugby for the
new Japanese side there are reports that he will remain as Japan’s national
coach although this could become problematic.
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