Eddie Jones the next Stormers coach?

Former Wallaby and Brumbies mentor Eddie Jones could be the next Stormers coach if Allister Coetzee decides to move to Japan. Photo: Francois Mori

Former Wallaby and Brumbies mentor Eddie Jones could be the next Stormers coach if Allister Coetzee decides to move to Japan. Photo: Francois Mori

Published Jan 31, 2015

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Cape Town - Former Wallaby and Brumbies mentor Eddie Jones could become the next Stormers coach if Allister Coetzee decides to move to Japan.

The Cape Times understands that Stormers bosses sounded out Jones in the last week about a possible move to Cape Town next year to coach the team in Super Rugby in 2016, when the tournament will be expanded to 18 teams, with three extra sides - namely the Southern Kings from Port Elizabeth and two new outfits from Argentina and Japan respectively.

That is if Coetzee takes up a big-money offer to coach Japanese club Kobe Steelers, whose current boss Gary Gold finished his stint there last week and will move to Durban to take charge of the Sharks with immediate effect as their director of rugby.

Several sources have told the Cape Times in the last 24 hours that Coetzee will be leaving the Stormers at the end of the Super Rugby season in July this year and joining Kobe, despite being contracted to the Cape side until the end of 2015, and that the Stormers management are aware of his decision.

But following the team’s 39-31 victory over the Cheetahs at Newlands on Friday night in a warm-up game, Coetzee insisted at the post-match press conference that he has yet to make a decision on his future. “Don’t worry about stories, don’t worry about stories. My future is actually so predictable - I am still contracted to Western Province Rugby. I haven’t signed any contract anywhere else, not even with Western Province as yet. I am contracted (here) - I haven’t signed, but I haven’t signed anywhere else,” he said.

“To be honest with you guys, my head is in this campaign (2015 Super Rugby). It’s a massively important campaign for us, so that is where I’d like to leave any speculation or stories.”

Asked when he would be making a call on his coaching future, Coetzee said: “No, no, it’s my personal business, that future of mine. I think that’s how I respect you guys with your futures as well.” Stormers captain Duane Vermeulen then added: “When his contract ends!”

It is believed that moving to Japan won’t affect the 51-year-old Coetzee’s chances of becoming the next Springbok coach if the South African Rugby Union do not renew current coach Heyneke Meyer’s contract - which expires at the end of this year too - as the former scrumhalf is set to have a release clause that would enable him to leave Kobe and take over the Bok job if required.

Jones is the Japan national team coach at the moment and will guide them to the Rugby World Cup in England, which starts in September, with the Japanese side opening their tournament against the Springboks in Brighton on September 19.

But his Japanese contract will expire at the end of the tournament, so he would be available to take over the Stormers job. Jones is likely to coach only the Stormers team in Super Rugby, as it is understood that current Western Province Vodacom Cup mentor John Dobson is in line to become the WP coach for this year’s Currie Cup competition already.

Jones has a long history with Super Rugby, and guided the Brumbies to the title in 2001, the first time a non-New Zealand team had won the tournament. He was also in charge of the Australian national team, which he led to the World Cup final in 2003 on home soil, which they lost to England.

The 55-year-old’s last involvement in Super Rugby was a disastrous campaign with the Reds in 2007, but in that same year, Jones was roped in by Jake White as a consultant to the Springbok team and was widely praised for his contribution to the World Cup triumph - especially with regards to revitalising their attacking play.

Since then, he has been the director of rugby at English club Saracens and later the head coach of top Japanese club Suntory Sungoliath, who won the league in 2012. Jones was appointed the Japan national team head coach that same year.

Independent Media

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