Eddie Jones statement: New coach to join England ahead of World Cup
Rugby NewsTuesday, 08 November 2022 at 09:04
England have appointed Brett Hodgson as defence coach to start after the Autumn Nation Series.
Anthony Seibold will leave at the end of the series to join NRL side Manly Sea Eagles where he has been appointed head coach.
An RFU statement read: “England have appointed Brett Hodgson as defence coach to start after the Autumn Nation Series. Anthony Seibold will leave at the end of the series to join NRL side Manly Warringah Sea Eagles where he has been appointed head coach.
“Hodgson has joined up with the wider staff at Pennyhill Par where England are preparing for this weekend’s game against Japan at Twickenham Stadium. He will shadow Seibold in the upcoming weeks.
“Hodgson enjoyed a distinguished playing career, making more than 200 appearances in the NRL in his native Australia before moving to England where he won the prestigious Man of Steel award with Huddersfield Giants in the Super League. He moved into coaching in 2013 with Hull and Widnes Vikings. He subsequently joined Wests Tigers before returning to England as the Hull head coach in 2020.”
Eddie Jones said:
“I have known Brett for a few years now. He first visited us in Bristol in 2018 and I have been to Hull on a few occasions. He was an outstanding league player and he is a talented, hard-working young coach who is developing. He will continue the good work that Anthony Seibold has done since he joined us.
“We are disappointed to lose Anthony but we are really pleased for him as a career move. It’s great to see assistant coaches move on to head coach roles. Anthony leaves with everyone at England Rugby’s thanks and we wish him all the best in his new role.”
Bredd Hodgson said:
“I’m really excited about the opportunity to join England, especially in a Rugby World Cup year. I’m really looking forward to working with the staff and this group of players. There is some real talent here and it’s something I feel I can make a contribution to in helping this team succeed.”
Fan reaction:
One fan wrote: "Surely it’s the attack we need to be thinking about. Get away from constant kicking and trying to crash. Where is the flair that we see in the premiership week in week out. Even Marcus Smith becomes robotic in an England jersey,"
"This lack of stability is symptomatic of a chaotic environment - emperors new clothes?" commented a second.
A third added: "Yet another coach! If Eddie ran a business it would have gone bust years ago. What does it say about a Head coach who can't pick a consistent team and keep his coaches,"
"Another one gone… strange how all the other coaches have changed but Eddie is still there…," said another
Six players who were tipped to start World Cup 2023 and what went wrong
Most of the picks, in fairness, are pretty bang on. However, some players chances of being involved are looking slim to nothing.
#1. Joel Kpoku
- Age: 23
- Club: Lyon
- Position: Lock
- Current caps: 0
Rugby World: "The next star off the Saracens production line may be Kpoku, although the lock has been linked with a move to Northampton Saints due to the presence of Itoje, George Kruis and Nick Isiekwe at his current club. An incredibly hard-hitting carrier in the mould of Eben Etzebeth, a selection in the coming months would not be surprising."
Where is he now? The a one-time Eddie Jones call-up and an age-group team-mate of Marcus Smith is enjoying new lease of life in east France with Lyon.
Joel Kpoku of Saracens runs at Kieran Murphy of Ealing Trailfinders during the Greene King IPA Championship rugby match between Saracens and Ealing Trailfinders at The StoneX Stadium, Hendon, London on April 25 2021. - PHOTO: Micah Crook/PPAUK
#2. Stuart Townsend
- Age: 27
- Club: Exeter Chiefs
- Position: Scrum-half
- Current caps: 0
RUCK: "A lot of the English scrum-halves are ageing, meaning this is a direct choice between the Exeter Chiefs man and Ben Vellacott. However, his emergence as a premier playmaker in such a short space of time makes us think he will continue to get better, which will lead to him establishing himself in the England set-up."
Where is he now? Has been in and out of the Exeter side due to injury and will be ruled out until 2023 following his latest knock
Stuart Townsend of Exeter Chiefs during the Exeter Chiefs training session at Sandy Park on 6th April 2022. Photo: Phil Mingo/PPAUK
#3. Joe Simmonds
- Age: 25
- Club: Exeter Chiefs
- Position: Fly-half
- Current caps: 0
The Rugby Paper: "The 23-year-old Exeter fly-half has learned his trade next to Gareth Steenson, and has proved over the last two seasons that he has an all-court game. The same can be said for his two marginally younger rivals, Jacob Umaga (Wasps) and Marcus Smith (Harlequins), but playing for the Chiefs means that Simmonds has more big match experience – including acquitting himself well opposite Owen Farrell in last season’s Premiership final."
Where is he now? Also still with Exeter, and is beginning to recapture his best form after captaining the Chiefs to Premiership and European Cup glory
Exeter Chiefs player Joe Simmonds during the warm up before the Gallagher Premiership Rugby Match between Sale Sharks and Exeter Chiefs at the AJ Bell Stadium on October 1st. Photo: Steve Bond/PPAUK
#5. Alfie Barbeary (at hooker)
- Age: 22
- Club: Free agent
- Position: Flanker, Number 8
- Current caps: 0
Rugby Pass: "Odds are this will still be Jamie George’s jersey in three years’ time, though if Barbeary takes to senior rugby the way that he is capable of, his rise could be meteoric. Injuries have thus far made it a frustrating debut professional campaign for the young hooker, and we are yet to see him get a run of games at the senior level."
Where is he now? Ruled out until 2023 and is without a club following Wasps collapse.
Alfie Barbeary of Wasps during the Gallagher Premiership rugby match between Exeter Chiefs and Wasps at Sandy Park on 17 April 2021. Photo: Cameron Geran/PPAUK
#5. Tom de Glanville
- Age: 22
- Club: Bath
- Position: Fullback
- Current caps: 0
Mike Brown: “De Glanville has all the skills. Get him in now to see if he can make the step up.”
Where is he now? He has established himself as an important and talented player within the Senior Squad, but finds himself some way of the international set-up due to the emergence of Freddie Steward
Tom de Glanville of Bath Rugby celebrates after winning during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby Match between Bath Rugby and Bristol Bears at the Recreation Ground on 5 March 2022. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK
#6. Ben Spencer
- Age: 30
- Club: Bath
- Position: Scrum-half
- Current caps: 2
The Rugby Paper: "Ben Spencer, who has been sitting on the England sidelines for three years, should be given his chance as a starter at 9 rather than consigned to bit-parts off the bench. As he showed in his Bath debut, Spencer brings high tempo energy, has sprinter’s pace, a solid passing game, and an accurate box-kick."
Where is he now? Joined Bath after featuring in the 2019 World Cup final. However, with the emergency of Raffi Quirke and Jack van Poortvliet, Spencer is miles off the current squad.
Ben Spencer of Bath Rugby during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby Match between Bath Rugby and London Irish at the Recreation Ground on 21 May 2022. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK
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