Win or lose, Jones to quit England after Japan World Cup

EXIT PLAN: England coach Eddie Jones says the England job is too draining to stay longer than for years.

EXIT PLAN: England coach Eddie Jones says the England job is too draining to stay longer than for years.

Published Dec 22, 2016

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London - Eddie Jones has revealed he will leave his role as England head coach after the 2019 World Cup in Japan - regardless of whether he wins it or not.

The Australian, who took over from Stuart Lancaster after England’s disastrous World Cup on home soil last year, is yet to taste defeat with the Red Rose as his side looked untroubled on their way to 13 wins from 13 in 2016.

Among those wins were a first English Grand Slam since 2003 and a series win Down Under, where England whitewashed the Wallabies.

After the 13th and final win of the year, a 37-21 triumph over Australia, Jones insisted that his long-term goal would conclude “2nd of November, 8pm Japan time” - the date of the 2019 World Cup final.

The 56-year-old admitted that the rigours and demands of the day-to-day job as England head coach means that that date will be his final moment in the role.

“Four years is enough,” Jones said. “It is emotionally draining.”

He is adamant, however, there is more to come as he aims to knock New Zealand off the top of the World Rugby rankings.

“England should be the most dominant team in Europe. We should think we can beat everyone,” he added.

“I want us to have that attitude: we are dominant, the biggest team in Europe and we play like that. Like the old Manchester United side, the same as the All Blacks.

“I think we are getting there.”

Meanwhile, the former Wallabies coach pulled no punches when it came to the six-week suspension of England captain Dylan Hartley.

The New Zealand-born hooker, who has a lengthy disciplinary record, was handed the third dismissal of his career for a high swinging arm tackle on Ireland flanker Sean O’Brien, just six minutes after coming on against Leinster earlier this month.

“Dylan will be more disappointed than anyone about what has happened and he has got to cop the penalty because the World Rugby directive on protecting the head is 100 percent right,” Jones said.

“He has let himself down, he has let his club down and he has let his country down.

“He is eligible for selection for the Six Nations and it comes down to the case for every selection - we pick the best 23 and if he is in the best 23, then he has a chance to be captain.”

Hartley was omitted from the England squad for last year’s World Cup because of a ban for head-butting and has previously served bans totalling 54 weeks for offences including eye-gouging, biting and verbally abusing referees. - 

The Independent-Reuters

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