Rugby
ESPN 6y

Eddie Jones consults FA for advice on allowing WAGS at Rugby World Cup

Rugby, Rugby World Cup

England head coach Eddie Jones says he has asked the Football Association for advice before deciding if he will allow players' wives and girlfriends to attend the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan. 

Football counterpart Gareth Southgate only permitted his players to spend time with their partners at pre-determined times during the FIFA World Cup in Russia this summer, with wives and girlfriends not allowed to stay at the team hotel. 

And with the Rugby World Cup now less than a year away, Jones has consulted the FA ahead of setting his own rules. 

"We have been talking to the FA about what they did successfully at the [FIFA] World Cup," Jones said. "When it gets closer to the time we will have a policy on that. We will have an idea and give it to the players to look at. We want them to accept responsibility.

"Having family out there varies for each player. I can remember coaching a side and the captain, who was pretty successful, came up and said: 'I don't care what you do, but don't allow wives and kids in the hotel.'

"For him it was an impediment to his performance, whereas other players feel it is essential to see their family. It is about coming up with a set of rules that individually allow the players some freedom but at the same time maintain the team discipline. That is what we are working towards."

England's players will meet up with Jones on Sunday for a three-day training camp in Bristol, where his squad will work with new defence coach John Mitchell for the first time. Jones also said that his staff will fly out to Japan after the camp to gather more information on the facilities they will be using in a year's time. 

"When this camp finishes, five of the staff are going to Japan to look at our training centres and grounds," Jones added. "To win the World Cup we need to be the best prepared team in the world."

^ Back to Top ^