Springboks boss Rassie Erasmus has addressed the speculation which swirled around Felix Jones’ return after his sudden resignation from the England set-up.
The Irishman has rejoined the backroom team which is headed by Erasmus after stepping down from his position with the Red Rose last August.
It was reported that Jones had become “unhappy with the unstable working environment” and he eventually severed complete ties with England in December.
He has since rejoined the Boks, a team he worked for between 2019 and 2023, leaving some observers to half-jokingly suggest that the 37-year-old was acting as a spy for South Africa.
Erasmus’ press release comments
Erasmus’ comments in the press release confirming Jones’ return then added fuel to the fire.
“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,” he said last week upon Jones’ re-signing.
However, in a press conference on Wednesday, the Springboks head coach looked to reduce the speculation and explain the situation.
“I don’t want people to think it was at all a plan to get him over there and come back again,” Erasmus said.
“We all hoped for him that it would work out and I can’t comment on why it didn’t work out at England. But getting him back is fantastic, because we never wanted to lose him.”
Erasmus did admit that they will inevitably tap into the knowledge Jones has gleaned from his time at England, but insisted that he was not being a ‘spy’ for the South Africans.
“Obviously Felix will have learned a lot and we would love him to share some of those things with us,” he said.
“We do think there are little things we have missed where we can do better and Felix is going to play a pretty vital role in that. There is not one coach who didn’t send me a list of things that he wants Felix to be involved with in his department.”
Springboks fans are all saying the same thing after Felix Jones’ return to Rassie Erasmus’ team
Just a few England games before resignation
Jones joined England after the 2023 Rugby World Cup with the 2024 Six Nations being his first set of games.
However, the Irishman only lasted a few months in the role and he has now returned to the Springboks set-up looking ahead to the 2027 global tournament.
“We’re not playing England but we will in the future, and he will have coached against the other Six Nations teams,” Erasmus added.
“We know exactly what his role is going to be with us and if we do our hard work first, those small little edges might help us which Felix will bring.”
READ MORE: Felix Jones makes shock return to Springboks as Rassie Erasmus welcomes ‘vital cog’ back
Src: Planetrugby.com - https://www.planetrugby.com/news/rassie-erasmus-addresses-felix-jones-spy-theory-after-springboks-boss-pointed-comment-following-ex-england-coachs-return
