Guinness Prem - Jones makes early Saracens exit

Eurosport - Sat, 14 Mar 11:35:00 2009

Former Australia coach Eddie Jones has quit as Saracens director of rugby with immediate effect.

RUGBY 2008-2009 Guinness Prem Saracens Eddie Jones - 0

Coaching co-ordinator Richard Graham will be in charge for the remainder of the current campaign, the Premiership club announced.

Jones, the Wallabies' coach when they lost the 2003 World Cup final to England in Sydney, had been due to leave Saracens at the end of the season ahead of joining Japanese club Suntory on a two-year contract.

No immediate explanation for his sudden exit was provided by Saracens but Jones is understood to be unhappy with the set-up at the club.

Saracens courted controversy within English rugby when it emerged the club's South African investors, who are working alongside the club's longstanding English chairman Nigel Wray, planned to release several England-qualified players at the end of the season and replace them with South Africans.

They had already selected a South African in Brendan Venter as their new head coach for next season.

Saracens, seventh in the 12-team Premiership, are at home to Bath on Sunday March 15.

AFP

Comment 1 - 9 of 9

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  1. I'm not sure about his record? Yes, a World Cup­ Final, losses against the All Blacks and S.A. on a huge­ scale as well. Average record to be fair.

    From T M, on Sat 14 Mar 11:52AM

  2. Nigel Wray has, over the years, invested millions into­ Saracens, for very little return,my view is that there­ is no way he would do anything that is not in­ Saracen's best interests, before you pass judgment­ let's wait and see what happens, if Jones has been­ removed there is a good reason for it, Ned Kelly

    From jcastledineruiz, on Sat 14 Mar 10:41AM

  3. I don't blame Eddie Jones going early although I­ really wish he'd stayed until at least the end of­ the season . Personally I thought he was the right man­ for the job but was put in an in impossible position­ with all the nonsense thats happening at Sarries .­ Although I shall be there on sunday I am not going with­ much enthusiasm.
    Steve Barrett

    From stephen, on Fri 13 Mar 8:09PM

  4. Couldn't agree more. Jones was between a rock and a­ hard place, how do you motivate the players with all­ that is going on at Sarries? Sorry to see you go early­ Eddie and I just hope Sarries manage to salvage­ something from this whole sorry episode. I think the­ revamp will backfire bigtime - the fan base will fall­ away and the team will not succeed. A move to Fulham­ will just put an end to the whole thing!!

    From NICOLA, on Fri 13 Mar 7:38PM
  5. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Who cares??
    Watch the Irish clubs.

    From roy c, on Fri 13 Mar 7:32PM
  6. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Who cares??
    Watch the Irish clubs.

    From roy c, on Fri 13 Mar 7:32PM
  7. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Who cares??
    Watch the Irish clubs.

    From roy c, on Fri 13 Mar 7:32PM
  8. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Who cares??
    Watch the Irish clubs.

    From roy c, on Fri 13 Mar 7:32PM

  9. I don't imagine Jones is an easy character to deal­ with but his record speaks for itself. Saracens are­ making a big mistake alienating english fans to pander­ to the SA expat community by getting rid of some long­ time players. Saracens will be the team everyone wants­ to beat/hate especially populated by a bunch of SAs

    From Jonathan, on Fri 13 Mar 7:28PM
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