Eddie Jones adds former England forwards coach to Wallabies staff

The Wallabies’ coaching setup has continued to take shape ahead of this year’s World Cup, with Eddie Jones calling on another familiar face to join his team.

Rugby Australia confirmed on Thursday that former England forwards coach Neal Hatley will join the Wallabies as the team’s new scrum coach.

Along with Jones, Hatley was part of the England coaching group that steered the team to a Rugby World Cup final in Japan four years ago.

Hatley will bring a wealth of experience into the Wallabies’ setup, having coached at English Premiership club at Bath for a number of years.

The former Premiership prop plied his trade as an assistant coach at Bath for four years from 2012, before joining Eddie Jones in the England coaching group.

After the World Cup final, Hatley returned to Bath as the head coach for two years before taking up a position as the team’s forwards coach.

“I’m honoured to join Eddie and the Wallabies in what’s a massive year with the World Cup just over five months away,” Hatley said in a statement.

“While my focus is here with Bath at the moment, I know there’s plenty of potential within the playing group in Australia and I’m looking forward to maximising that when I begin the role.”

But Hatley isn’t the only addition to the Wallabies’ setup.

Rugby Australia also announced that AFL guru David Rath will join the group as the learning coordinator.

Rath has held positions at St Kilda, and was also part of Hawthorn’s staff during their four Premiership campaigns in 2008, 2013, 2014 and 2015.

The pair join former NRL star and England assistant coach Brett Hodgson in the Wallabies setup. Hodgson was named the Wallabies’ new defence coach earlier this year.