ITV make controversial decision ahead of Six Nations following bullying allegations
Former England head coach Eddie Jones is set to join ITV’s Six Nations coverage this winter.
Jones, who was dismissed from his England role in December 2022 after seven years at the helm, will provide analysis during the upcoming tournament.
The 64-year-old Australian led England to three Six Nations titles during his tenure before being replaced by current head coach Steve Borthwick.
Jones will feature as a pundit for four of England’s five matches in the competition, which begins later this month.
He joins an impressive lineup of expert analysts at ITV, including England legend Jonny Wilkinson and former Ireland star Brian O’Driscoll.
Former England player Maggie Alphonsi will also be part of the broadcaster’s coverage team.
Jones’s departure from England came after a disappointing 2022 campaign, where the team suffered six defeats in 12 matches.
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A decisive loss to South Africa in November 2022 proved to be the final straw for his tenure.
Upon leaving, Jones stated: “I am pleased with much that we have achieved as an England team and I look forward to watching the team’s performance in the future.”
He added: “Many of the players and I will no doubt keep in touch and I wish them all well in their future careers.”
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ITV’s decision to bring in Jones has sparked controversy due to bullying allegations from his time as England coach.
A former coach previously told The Telegraph: “Everyone at the RFU knew what was going on. Eddie is a bully and too many people accepted it. No one stood up to him.”
In his autobiography, Danny Care described the environment under Jones as “like living in a dictatorship.”
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Care wrote: “Remember what it felt like when someone was being bullied at school and you were just glad it wasn’t you? That was the vibe.”
He also accused Jones of “leading by fear” and claimed England players felt like “characters in a dystopian novel.”
England’s struggles have continued under current coach Steve Borthwick, with the team winning just five of their 12 matches in 2024.
Two of those victories came against Japan, who are now coached by Jones himself.
The poor run of form follows a pattern from the end of Jones’s tenure, highlighting the ongoing challenges facing English rugby at the international level.
