England on Friday named Australian Eddie Jones as their first foreign head coach with the task of reviving the national team after its World Cup disaster.
Jones has agreed a four-year deal in place of Stuart Lancaster.
The former Australia and Japan boss has been released from his contract with South African provincial side the Stormers and will take up his England post next month.
“The opportunity to take the reins in possibly the world’s most high profile international rugby job doesn’t come along every day, and I feel fortunate to be given the opportunity,” Jones said in a RFU statement.
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Lancaster stood down on November 11 after England became the first host nation to be knocked out of the World Cup in the group stage.
When RFU chief executive Ian Ritchie said he wanted a coach of “proven international experience” to replace Lancaster, Jones was immediately linked with the vacancy, although several other high-profile international coaches — including current Australia boss Michael Cheika and New Zealand assistant Wayne Smith — soon ruled themselves out of the running.
Jones was Australia coach when they lost the 2003 World Cup final to England and four years later was a member of South Africa’s back-room staff when they became world champions.
This year saw Jones oversee Japan’s impressive performance at the World Cup, which included a shock defeat of South Africa — the biggest upset in the tournament’s history.
The 55-year-old’s CV also includes a spell in charge of English Premiership side Saracens.
“I’m now looking forward to working with the RFU and the players to move beyond the disappointment England suffered at the World Cup and hope to build a new team that will reflect the level of talent that exists within the English game,” Jones said.
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“We promised to recruit a coach with proven international experience and we have done that,” Ritchie said.
“Eddie is a world-class coach, with extensive experience at the highest level with Australia, South Africa and Japan.
“We believe that the appointment, which was unanimously approved by the RFU Board, is the right one to bring England success in the short, medium and long term.”
Jones, whose first game in charge of England will be their Six Nations opener away to Scotland on February 6, was due to hold a Twickenham news conference later Friday.
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