Japan rugby coach Eddie Jones has shot down reports he has signed a contract to take over South Africa’s Western Stormers, but yesterday said he was “chatting” with the Super XV side as he weighs up his options before his contract expires.
Jones of Australia has a contract with the Brave Blossoms until the end of this year, but he was thought to be keen to remain in Japan, which is to host the 2019 Rugby World Cup, to coach the national side as well as the new Super XV expansion team.
However, reports from South Africa on Monday said the 55-year-old had already put pen to paper on a two-year contract worth 5 million rand (US$385,563) per year with the Cape Town-based Stormers.
The reports also suggested Jones could retain his role with Japan, despite being based out of South Africa.
Jones yesterday told Japan’s Kyodo News that he was simply exploring his options.
“I am chatting with [the Stormers], but that is the extent of it,” he said. “I am off contract in 2015 and I am looking at my options.”
“Players and coaches sign contracts and do everything they can until the contract comes to an end, but you need to look elsewhere when your contract is coming to an end. That is professional rugby,” he added.
Jones, who has never held a top coaching position in South Africa, said he was always drawn to the appeal of doing something different.
“That is why I came to Japan after coaching in England,” he said. “No Australian has done anything in Japan. I like new challenges and that is why I am chatting with them.”
The Stormers lost to Australia’s ACT Brumbies in the playoffs of this year’s Super XV tournament.
Stormers coach Allister Coetzee has since moved to Japan to take over Top League side Kobe Kobelco Steelers.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen go into today’s match at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim stung from their first league defeat in 16 months. Leverkusen were beaten 3-2 at home by RB Leipzig before the international break, the first loss since May last year for the reigning league and cup champions. While any defeat, particularly against a likely title rival, would have disappointed coach Xabi Alonso, the way in which it happened would be most concerning. Just as they did in the Supercup against VfB Stuttgart and in the league opener to Borussia Moenchengladbach, Leverkusen scored first, but were pegged back. However, while Leverkusen rallied late to
The lights dimmed and the crowd hushed as Karoline Kristensen entered for her performance. However, this was no ordinary Dutch theater: The temperature was 80°C and the audience naked apart from a towel. Dressed in a swimsuit and to the tune of emotional music, the 21-year-old Kristensen started her routine, performed inside a large sauna, with a bed of hot rocks in the middle. For a week this month, a group of wellness practitioners, called “sauna masters,” are gathering at a picturesque health resort in the Netherlands to compete in this year’s Aufguss world sauna championships. The practice takes its name from a
Japanese players are moving to English soccer in record numbers and more look set to follow with clubs attracted by their quality, strong work ethic and value for money. Kaoru Mitoma is the standout talent of five Japanese players in the English Premier League, with eight more in the Championship and two in League One. Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo, the captain of Japan, believes his compatriots are “being held in higher esteem” by English clubs compared with the past. “The staff at Liverpool ask me about lots of Japanese players, not necessarily with a view to a transfer, but just saying this or
Taiwan yesterday survived Bosnia and Herzegovina to win their Davis Cup World Group I tie at the Taipei Tennis Center. The tight series started on Saturday with world No. 123 Jason Tseng losing 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 to Mirza Basic in the opening singles matchup. However, teammate Tony Wu kept the tie even, dominating world No. 86 Damir Dzumhur 6-2, 6-1. Yesterday, 24-year-old Ray Ho and partner 25-year-old Hsu Yu-hsiou kept up the momentum, making short work of Basic and Nerman Fatic, winning 6-3, 6-4. Tseng then suffered another defeat, losing 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 to Dzumhur in a brutal match that lasted more than two