appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

isVideo

articlePageQuery

article

articleSchemaContent

content

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

appConfig

filter

json

liveArticle

Agence France-Presse

Japan suspended head coach Eddie Jones for four games and cut his salary on Wednesday for “verbal abuse directed at local officials” during an Australian tour, removing his involvement from matches against Hong Kong later this month.
Jones will miss Japan’s Nations Championship opener against Italy in Tokyo on July 4.
The Japan Rugby Football Union said the 66-year-old Australian violated their ethics and disciplinary regulations during a Japan Under-23 team tour of Australia from April 1 to 15.
“These measures relate to incidences of verbal abuse directed at local match officials,” the JRFU said in a statement.
They said Jones had “accepted this decision”.

“I accept the disciplinary action of the JRFU relating to the U23 Japan national team tour of Australia,” Jones said in a statement.
“Some inappropriate remarks that I made caused discomfort to local match officials and other related parties.
“I would like to offer my sincere apologies to everyone involved. I deeply regret my behaviour and words, and will make every effort to ensure that this doesn’t happen again.”
Jones will not be allowed to take any part in two games pitting a Japan select team against Hong Kong on May 22 and 29.
The matches are the culmination of a training camp in Japan for Hong Kong head coach Logan Asplin’s initial squad in their build-up for next year’s Rugby World Cup in Australia.
Jones is also banned from the Japan XV game against the Maori All Blacks on June 27 in Nagoya and the full Japan side’s Nations Championship opener against Italy a week later.
He is suspended from duty for six weeks between April 24 and June 5.
Jones will be free to return to the team when Japan play Ireland in the Nations Championship on July 11 in Newcastle, Australia.

Japan also face Paris in Tokyo on July 18 in the inaugural edition of the tournament.
Jones returned to coach Japan for a second time in January 2024, having led them to a famous victory over South Africa at the 2015 World Cup.
He left to coach England and took them to the 2019 World Cup final before being fired in December 2022.
He then returned for a disastrous 10-month spell in charge of Australia that saw them exit the World Cup at the pool stage for the first time.
He walked out on the Wallabies to return to Japan, where he has family ties and has spent large chunks of his professional life.


Japan rugby coach Eddie Jones suspended for abusing officials, will miss Hong Kong matches

Hong Kong rugby player denies molesting woman at bar, but admits vandalism

Hong Kong eye Seawolves prop Charlie Walsh as team builds to 2027 Rugby World Cup

Hong Kong, Kazakhstan women both chasing firsts in Asia Rugby Championship finale

Hong Kong China Rugby

Australian Eddie Jones, who is in his second stint as Japan coach,  will miss his team’s Nations Championship opener against Italy in Tokyo on July 4. Photo: AFP

Eddie Jones will be free to resume his duties against Ireland in July. Photo: AFP

Hong Kong’s Gregor McNeish claims the ball during a home 59-14 loss to Japan A last October. Photo: Elson Li

Hong Kong are looking into the possibility of adding Charlie Walsh (centre) to the team ahead of the Rugby World Cup. Photo: Handout

Veteran Hong Kong player Alex Post (centre), here in action in 2019, is undergoing shoulder surgery. Photo: HKRU

Hong Kong and Shanghai Shenhua star Shinichi Chan on a mission to unearth city talent

Shinichi Chan (middle) celebrates scoring for Shanghai Shenhua. Photo: Weibo/ Shanghai Shenhua

Shinichi Chan on the ball for Kitchee one month before his 2024 transfer to Shanghai Shenhua. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Sport

Rugby

International Rugby

Ex-Wallabies coach apologises after being banned for four games and has salary cut following incident on Australian tour with under-23 team


Ex-Wallabies coach apologises after being banned for four games and has salary cut following incident on Australian tour with under-23 team.


Hong Kong International Test Rugby

Rugby World Cup 2027

World Rugby

Japan rugby coach Eddie Jones suspended for abusing officials, will miss Hong Kong matches

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Ex-Wallabies coach apologises after being banned for four games and has salary cut following incident on Australian tour with under-23 team

Ex-Wallabies coach apologises after being banned for four games and has salary cut following incident on Australian tour with under-23 team