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Felix Jones to make shock Springboks return
By Neil Fissler
Springboks boss Rassie Erasmus is getting the band back together again after announcing that Felix Jones is rejoining his coaching team from the start of next month.
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Jones, 37, was a vital cog in the Springbok coaching team that plotted back-to-back World Cup final wins before becoming England’s defence coach because he wanted to be nearer his family.
But after seven months, the former Ireland international said that he had become disillusioned in Steve Borthwick’s set-up but was told he was being held to a 12-month notice period.
His messy departure was finally confirmed before Christmas, but not until after it emerged that he was conducting “remote analysis” during the Autumn Nations Series without contact with Borthwick or his coaching staff.
Jones had been linked with a return to Ireland as part of Andy Farrell’s coaching staff and as Graham Rowntree’s replacement at his former province Munster, where he played and launched his coaching career.
His return to Erasmus’ technical team next week, on a deal that will run until after the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, comes as a shock.
“We are delighted to welcome Felix back into the Springbok team, and we are excited to see him pick up where he left off in 2023.
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“He was a vital cog in the coaching team from 2019 to 2023, and his experience, professionalism, and excellent work ethic will make him a great addition to the fantastic coaching team we built from the beginning of 2024.
“Felix worked very closely with most of our coaches in the past, and I have no doubt he’ll work equally closely with Jerry (Flannery) and Tony (Brown), who joined us last season.
“After spending some time in England, his experience of working in the UK and studying the opposition teams in the Six Nations and other international tournaments will add immense value in assisting us to adapt and improve as we cast an eye on a tough international season ahead.
“As a team, we are well aware that we need to keep improving and growing if we want to remain one of the best teams in the world and to give ourselves the best possible chance to defend our World Cup title in Australia in 2027.
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“And Felix, like all the other coaching and support staff, will play a key role in guiding us to do so,” said a joyful Erasmus in a statement.
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This is mixed news. Yes he is great but the new coaching team doesn’t really need any fixing does it? And going back seldom works. The bit that leaves me in awe is there are probably several countries ( including his own)who would have offered far more to recruit him but he chose the Boks. That speaks volumes about the Bok management team and the Bok environment. I am unconvinced that he learnt a significant amount of IP with Borthwick.
Worked a treat in 2023!
It isn’t about fixing, it is about adding IP. Felix is an astute coach and will definitely dovetail very well with TB and Flannery.
What’s interesting for me is that Felix joined the boks as a defence coach, left the boks as their attack coach and joined England as the defence coach. So he comes back with a different perspective - including one from within the 6 Nations.
Also, Felix is highly regarded as an analyst. With a massive work ethic. So if anything he may be the guy that does the analytical work that polishes off the work done by Jerry, Tony and the rest of the Bok coaching team. He’s very similar to Rassie (and Jacques Nienaber) in that regard.
Rassie clearly holds Felix in very high regard, recommending Felix to replace him at Munster.
I think this is a massive boost for the boks.
I wonder if Galthie or Gregor Townsend is open to being the Bok bus driver?
The Yookay.
What’s really nice about this is that Felix went on a two year paid sabbatical to study up in the 6 Nations. Paid for by England. What maroons.
He didn’t even play any part in the game against the Boks. I mean you couldn’t script this any better if this was a piece of fiction. Or if this was a simulation. Where the boks keep winning the World Cup.
he would have been better off studying Ireland or New Zealand this current English team is no where near the RWC semis
Yeah quite gutted as an Englishman. It hurts, not gonna lie. Lol not that anyone cares haha
Best. News.
You know the new job was sh1t when you can’t wait to go back to the old one.
Welcome home.
Damn it!
Not that shocking really, the Bok setup has always been a home for Jones. The big question….will Nienaber return from Leinster before RWC ‘27 with a dossier on Irish rugby?
We can only hope so
We only need Nienaber on a consulting gig in 2027 really. I’m sure he shares lots of insights with Rassie already.