Eddie Jones has managed some of the biggest nations in world rugby… and that also means he’s coached the game’s very best players.
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The Aussie is a prominent figure in the world of rugby coaching, renowned for his tactical brilliance and leadership.
Born on January 30, 1960, in Australia, he has left an indelible mark on the sport. Jones gained recognition as the head coach of the England national rugby union team, guiding them to multiple Six Nations titles and a Rugby World Cup final in 2019.
His coaching journey began in the 1990s, honing his skills in Australia and later coaching teams in Japan and South Africa.
With a keen strategic mind and a passion for the game, Jones remains a respected and influential figure in international rugby.
So what does a Jones’ ‘best XV’ look like?
Eddie Jones facts:
- In 1994 Jones gave up his career as a teacher and school principal to coach his former club Randwick
- Jones previously coached Australia between 2001 and 2005, taking the team to the 2003 Rugby World Cup Final.
- He played a minimal role with South Africa when the Springboks won the 2007 Rugby World Cup and from 2012 to 2015 he coached Japan, leading them in the 2015 Rugby World Cup and their upset win over South Africa
- The hooker made three appearances for Leicester during the 1991/92 season in England
- In November 2015 Jones was appointed by Goldman Sachs Group Inc. to the bank’s advisory board in Japan
Using several interviews with various sources from down the years, we’ve formed Eddie Jones dream team of the players based on the players he bestowed with the most acclaim.
Eddie Jones Dream Team:
BACK-THREE:
- 15. Matt Burke (Australia)
- 14. Bryan Habana (South Africa)
- 11. Lote Tuqiri (Australia)
CENTRES:
- 13. Manu Tuilagi (England)
- 12. Matt Giteau (Australa)
HALFBACKS:
- Fly-half: Owen Farrell (England)
- Scrum-half: George Gregan (Australia)
Jones on Farrell ““He is the highest point scorer in the history of England rugby and he has been a colossus in the game. Because he can be seen as quite an unemotional and rigid player, he doesn’t get the praise that he should get.
“The most emotional I have seen him was after the World Cup semi-final in 2019 when he said, ‘I am so proud to be English’. You could really feel his passion and his pride and you don’t often get that with him. I think he gets a bit of a hard time for that. I 100 per cent think that there is a lack of appreciation for him.””
FRONT-ROW:
- Loosehead-prop: Mako Vunipola (England)
- Hooker: John Smit (South Africa)
- Tighthead-prop: Kyle Sinckler (England)
SECOND-ROW:
- Lock: Maro Itoje (England)
- Lock: Victor Matfield (South Africa)
BACK-ROW:
- Blindside-flanker: Schalk Burger (South Africa)
- Openside-flanker: George Smith (Australia)
- Number 8: Billy Vunipola (England)
“Early again” – England set for another easy group in 2027 Rugby World Cup draw
The Rugby World Cup 2027 draw is scheduled to occur in January 2026, providing a unique scenario with a full 18 months of international competition still to unfold prior to the tournament kicking off.
This early draw will utilize the World Rankings as of the conclusion of November 2025 to determine the seeding of participating teams.
During the draw, the 24 participating teams will be divided into six pools, each consisting of four teams. Notably, this draw will transpire before the regional qualifiers have concluded, resulting in a dual-world approach.
On one side, we have the twelve automatic qualifiers from the 2023 Rugby World Cup, confirmed by their names. On the other side, the regional qualifiers will be represented as Africa 1, Europe 1, Europe 2, and so forth.
Rugby World Cup 2027 is set to be hosted in Australia, marking the eleventh edition of the Men’s Rugby World Cup and the third time it will take place in Australia. The country previously co-hosted the inaugural Rugby World Cup with New Zealand in 1987 and served as the sole host in 2003.
With the current World Rankings in mind, let’s delve into how the 2027 Rugby World Cup will shape up via Rugby Centre.
2027 Rugby World Cup draw (Current rankings)
POOL A
- South Africa
- Australia
- Portugal
- Spain
POOL B
- France
- Fiji
- Tonga
- Chile
