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Ugo Monye brands RFU statement on Eddie Jones 'dishonest'

(Photo by Getty Images)

Former England player Ugo Monye has hit out an RFU statement on head coach Eddie Jones, claiming the missive to fans and the media was ‘dishonest’.

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Yesterday the RFU said they ‘fully support’ Jones after England showed signs of progression during the Guinness Six Nations.

“Eddie Jones is building a new England team and against a clear strategy we are encouraged by the solid progress the team has made during this Six Nations,” an RFU spokesperson said. “The RFU continues to fully support Eddie, the coaching team and players and we are excited about the summer tour and the progress to rebuild a winning England team.”

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As in 2021, Jones will once again meet with Twickenham’s anonymous ‘advisory panel’ to review another failed campaign, but he will enter the review knowing his job is secure with the World Cup just 18 months away.

“Eddie and his team of coaches and players will conduct a full review as is normal after each tournament. The RFU advisory panel – which consists of board and executive members, former players and coaches, along with Eddie – will also undertake a debrief to discuss the strong positive steps forward during this campaign and the areas we need to address.

“The advisory group has been in place since 2019 and it meets regularly both during and after each tournament to evaluate clear targets and progression.”

Many see England’s third place finish as unacceptable, given they won just two games – against Italy and Wales, and were well beaten by Ireland and Grand Slam winners France.

“I want to know who in the RFU thinks that signifies progress and are happy with how things are,” Monye told the BBC Rugby Union Daily podcast. “Fundamentally it’s just dishonest. There isn’t progress.”

Monye also said that a name should be attached to the statement, as opposed to just being issued by a spokesperson.

“With the financial backing, the player pool and the coaching staff they have you cannot be winning two out of five games two years in a row. It’s appalling, unimaginable, unacceptable,” he said.

“England talk about showing great spirit and fight against Ireland and France but you expect that as a baseline. They were miles behind where France were.”

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Meanwhile, Jones has defended his position as England’s head coach, saying there needs to be more patience shown for the team’s progression.

“They’ve got to have some faith. I think I’ve done a reasonable job for England for the past seven years,” Jones said.

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“Am I pleased with the job I’m doing? I’m not pleased with the results. Do I think I’m coaching well? 100 per cent. I think I’m coaching well and sometimes you don’t get the results.

“I’ve coached for long enough to know this is all about rebuilding a team. Rebuilding a team at international level is a complex and intriguing project, particularly when you’re coaching a team like England where the expectation is so high.”

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J
JW 16 minutes ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Where? I remember saying "unders"? The LNR was formed by the FFR, if I said that in a way that meant the 'pro' side of the game didn't have an equal representation/say as the 'amateur' side (FFR remit) that was not my intent.


But also, as it is the governing body, it also has more responsibility. As long as WR looks at FFR as the running body for rugby in France, that 'power' will remain. If the LNR refuses to govern their clubs use of players to enable a request by FFR (from WR) to ensure it's players are able to compete in International rugby takes place they will simply remove their participation. If the players complain to the France's body, either of their health and safety concerns (through playing too many 'minutes' etc) or that they are not allowed to be part in matches of national interest, my understanding is action can be taken against the LNR like it could be any other body/business. I see where you're coming from now re EPCR and the shake up they gave it, yes, that wasn't meant to be a separate statement to say that FFR can threaten them with EPCR expulsion by itself, simply that it would be a strong repercussion for those teams to be removed (no one would want them after the above).


You keep bringing up these other things I cannot understand why. Again, do you think if the LNR were not acting responsibly they would be able to get away with whatever they want (the attitude of these posters saying "they pay the players")? You may deem what theyre doing currently as being irresponsible but most do not. Countries like New Zealand have not even complained about it because they've never had it different, never got things like windfall TV contracts from France, so they can't complain because theyre not missing out on anything. Sure, if the French kept doing things like withholding million dollar game payments, or causing millions of dollars of devaluation in rights, they these things I'm outlining would be taking place. That's not the case currently however, no one here really cares what the French do. It's upto them to sort themselves out if they're not happy. Now, that said, if they did make it obvious to World Rugby that they were never going to send the French side away (like they possibly did stating their intent to exclude 20 targeted players) in July, well then they would simply be given XV fixtures against tier 2 sides during that window and the FFR would need to do things like the 50/50 revenue split to get big teams visiting in Nov.

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