[urlhttps://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/63801857[/url

Jones sacked

England have sacked Eddie Jones, leaving the team without a head coach nine months before the Rugby World Cup.

Forwards coach Richard Cockerill will take over the running of the team on an interim basis.

Jones departs after a dismal year of results, with only five wins from 12 Tests in 2022.

The 62-year-old won three Six Nations titles in his seven years in charge and led the team to the 2019 World Cup final, which they lost to South Africa.

Jones' sacking follows a review into England's disappointing autumn campaign, which saw one win from four matches.

"I am pleased with much that we have achieved as an England team and I look forward to watching the team's performance in the future," said the Australian.

"Many of the players and I will no doubt keep in touch and I wish them all well in their future careers."
England's best-performing men's coaches (Test win percentage)
Eddie Jones (2016-2022) 73%
Jack Rowell (1994-1997) 72%
Geoff Cooke (1988-1994) 71%
Sir Clive Woodward (1997-2004) 71%
Mike Davis (1979-1982) 63%
Stuart Lancaster (2012-2015) 61%

Rugby Football Union chief executive Bill Sweeney praised Jones' "huge contribution" to English rugby.

"He has the highest win ratio of any previous England head coach and has helped develop the leadership skills of many players and coaches," said Sweeney.

"I am grateful to Eddie for all he has done for England across many areas of the game and the professional way in which he has approached reviewing the performance of the team.

"He has provided the panel with astute insight and meaningful lessons that will support the team performance going forward."

The RFU said it "will now conclude the long-term work it has been undertaking on coach succession planning" with a full-time appointment "set to be announced in the near future".
Borthwick among the contenders to take over

While the RFU initially hoped an English coach would succeed Jones, chief executive Bill Sweeney said earlier this month that another overseas coach is a possibility.

However, former Ireland fly-half Ronan O'Gara - head coach of French side La Rochelle - ruled himself out of the running, while Warren Gatland, who has led the British and Irish Lions on their past three tours, returned to Wales on Monday.

Leicester's Steve Borthwick, who served as England forwards coach under Jones between 2016 and 2019, is the leading domestic contender, with Sale's Alex Sanderson an outside option.

Jones took charge of England after a pool-stage exit from their home World Cup in 2015, and the team won his first 17 matches in charge.

Not convinced that if Eddie Jones did come to Super League in some form it would be "great for the game overall".

There would absolutely be some benefit in terms of his experience, exposure, maybe even marketing the game etc. But let's be honest, is it really going to make a material change?

Will it put more bums on seats?
Will it improve Sky's money?
Will it improve the standard of players, academies, facilities?

The answer is either no, probably not or not by much..

Agree with this totally.

Maybe this is just me being ignorant, but as somebody who doesn't have any interest or follow union in the slightest i had a who? moment when his name first cropped up. So if he is a big name in union, but not a big enough name that somebody like me who doesn't keep up with union knows his name, who is he exciting or converting?

Can't imagine we would get many union fan converts either and their players are unlikely to make the switch so his relationships in union wouldn't seem to be a big factor either. Just don't see how this would be a big deal to be honest? Abit of press coverage maybe like you say, and then forgotten about by next days print.

Harrison has properly done one over on the club.

He has built up expectations beyond in my opinion what is realistic with his throw away comment. He is the only source that has said it is going to be a game changer for the code.

Absolutely no management of expectations and whatever I’d announced with the exception of Farrell is going to be criticised.

Hope the club have had a word with him.

Is he the agent for Morgan Smithies? Whether he is or not he's a big fan (as most are) and a contract extension for him would be great news for the club and for the English game so would make sense.

Did he use the phrase 'game changer'? I thought he just said it would be massive news.

He exaggerates lots of things and that was always going to be the case here. Going off Rogues post, there will be news to come but there’s very little that could live up to Harrison’s billing. This is the same man that proposes we start a wrestling competition, involving Superleague players, as a way of saving the sport though, so not much surprises me. He’s passionate and has seemingly made a good career as a player agent, which is a sure sign that you don’t need to be the sharpest tool in the shed.

Would be nice for some good news, as a club it's not been the best couple of weeks (kit delay, players leaving, 2021 accounts statement).

Doesn't Jones getting sacked coincide nicely with the vacancy for a casual coach on the warriors website

Father Christmas is coming.

Luke Thompson one of them sir?

i think this is the first post on the entire forum in 2 days lol

There's always that hope that no news is good news (he said, with fingers crossed).