RFU Boss Sets The Bar Very High For Any Potential Eddie Jones Successor

English coaches must gain international experience if they are to replace Eddie Jones as England coach, says Rugby Football Union boss Ian Ritchie.

Jone’s contract runs out after the 2019 World Cup in Japan and should he decide to end his association, only coaches with a proven international pedigree will be considered for the role.

“If we want to see an objective of an English coach, then they have to go out and get some international experience,” RFU chief executive Ritchie told BBC Radio 5 live.

“It’s not that straightforward but that’s what we will try and do.”

This month, Jones called for more English coaches to gain experience working in the southern hemisphere.

Ritchie added:

“Coach development in this country is about finding better and better coaches, all the way through the game but particularly at the elite level, and that’s what we need to do.”

Ritchie said the RFU will continue to work with Premiership clubs to ensure coaches gain more experience outside the English domestic game.

“We have to find the right mechanism and right collaborative approach of doing it,” he said.

“We recognise we are in a partnership here, and our objective is to make English rugby the best in the world.” [BBC]