Felix Jones has returned to the Springboks set-up as an assistant coach – just six months after dramatically walking out on England head coach Steve Borthwick.
Jones only joined England following the Springboks’ 2023 World Cup triumph but lasted just seven months as defence coach before quitting in September, shortly following the exit of Aled Walters as head of strength and conditioning amid rumours of discontent of working under Borthwick.
Instead, he reunites with Rassie Erasmus with whom he has helped to win back-to-back World Cups and the Springboks head coach made special reference to the benefits he would have gained from working in England’s set-up as South Africa aim for an unprecedented ‘three-peat’ in 2027.
His appointment, which will begin on March 1, would also appear to preclude him from joining Andy Farrell’s coaching ticket for the Lions tour to Australia.
“We are delighted to welcome Felix back into the Springbok team and we are excited to see him pick up where he left off in 2023,” Erasmus said. “He was a vital cog in the coaching team from 2019 to 2023, and his experience, professionalism, and excellent work ethic will make him a great addition to the fantastic coaching team we built from the beginning of 2024.
“Felix worked very closely with most of our coaches in the past, and I have no doubt he’ll work equally closely with Jerry (Flannery) and Tony (Brown), who joined us last season. 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.
“As a team we are well aware that we need to keep improving and growing if we want to remain one of the best teams in the world and to give ourselves the best possible chance to defend our World Cup title in Australia in 2027, and Felix, like all the other coaching and support staff, will play a key role in guiding us to do so.”
In the last World Cup cycle with South Africa, Jones served as South Africa’s attack coach while also acting as the point of contact for the Springboks’ European-based players outside of the Test windows. His specialist role has not been specified as he joins an enormous coaching staff with six assistant coaches working under Erasmus. Tony Brown heads the attack while Jerry Flannery, Jones’ close friend, has taken charge of the defence after joining from Harlequins.
After Jones’ departure from England, Borthwick recruited Joe El-Abd, the Oyonnax head coach, to run the defence on a job-share basis. Initially, El-Abd tried to maintain Jones’ ultra aggressive ‘hammer’ system but after a disappointing set of results in the Autumn Nations Series, England have since softened the system. Yet England’s defence, particularly around the edges, has continued to look vulnerable with the concession of 10 tries in three rounds of the Six Nations so far.
