By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Former England and Australia boss Eddie Jones has been confirmed as Japan’s new head coach through to 2028.
Jones will take up his post on January 1, the Japan Rugby Football Union announced.
He will take charge of the Brave Blossoms for the second time, having previously coached them from 2012 to 2015.
After coaching Australia at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, Jones resigned soon after the tournament despite having a contract through to 2027.
Jones, whose mother and wife are Japanese, will begin the job at the start of January.
He replaces the outgoing Jamie Joseph and will steer Japan into the 2027 Rugby World Cup, which will be held in Australia. He masterminded their famous 34-32 win over South Africa in the 2015 World Cup, a performance which saw him appointed as England head coach.
Jones coached England between 2015 and 2022, winning three Six Nations titles leading them to the 2019 World Cup final, which they lost to South Africa.He left the job with England with a 73% winning record, the highest of any coach of the men’s team.