Eddie Jones has been left embarrassed after footage emerged of the England head coach referring to Ireland as the "scummy Irish" and Wales as a "little s...... place".
England's rugby head coach Eddie Jones Photo: © INPHO 2017
Eddie Jones has been left embarrassed after footage emerged of the England head coach referring to Ireland as the "scummy Irish" and Wales as a "little s...... place".
The video shows Jones giving a talk on leadership for Fuso, the Japanese parent company of England sponsors Mitsubishi.
It was uploaded by Fuso to YouTube in July last year but has only come to light before this weekend's final round of the 2018 Six Nations when England will face Ireland at Twickenham.
Jones apologised for his comments and admitted his choice of words was inexcusable, saying he was "very sorry". The Rugby Football Union said it would apologise to the Irish and Welsh unions.
In the talk, Jones told an audience: "We've played 23 Tests and have only lost one Test to the scummy Irish. I'm still dirty about that game. But we will get that back!
"We will get that back, don't worry, we have them next year at home, we will get 'em back!"
Earlier in the talk, Jones discusses Japan's under-20s losing to their Welsh counterparts 125-0 shortly after he took over as Brave Blossoms head coach in 2012.
"Wales. Who knows Wales? Are there any Welsh people here? So it's this little s...... place that has got three million people. Three million!" he said.
In his apology, released by England's Rugby Football Union, Jones said: "I apologise unreservedly for any offence caused - no excuses and I shouldn't have said what I did. I'm very sorry."
Not only will the footage have caused acute embarrassment to the RFU, but it could also serve to motivate Ireland ahead of Saturday's St Patrick's Day showdown.
England ceded the Six Nations title they have held for the past two years with a round to spare after losing 22-16 to France in Paris last weekend. They could finish as low as fifth if they lose to grand slam-chasing Ireland.
Two successive defeats have seen the team's progress stall under Jones, who since taking over in 2015 had masterminded a record of 24 wins from 27 Tests.
- AAP
