Latest news with #EddieJones
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cokanasiga has 'hunger' to play for England again
Bath winger Joe Cokanasiga said he does not feel his England career is over and he has felt more "hunger" this season to play internationally again. The 27-year-old has been capped 16 times by England but has not played since August 2023 and was overlooked for the World Cup squad that autumn. Cokanasiga is Bath's joint-leading try-scorer this season, with 10 in all competitions. "This year especially I felt more of a hunger to play for England again because I'd been out for so long. If it happens, it happens," Cokanasiga said. "It's something that's still in my head, I spoke to Steve [Borthwick, England head coach] the other day and I have to play well for my club first, that's my priority. "But I feel like if I do that then I'll get the best outcome. I don't feel that my England career is over yet." Bath to 'stick to process' in European cup final From injury to history - Davidson's rise to ref European final Lions duo Russell & Williams among player of year nominees Cokanasiga, who was born in Fiji, represented England at under-18 and under-20 level before being called up to the senior squad by Eddie Jones in 2017. He made his Test debut in November 2018 aged 19, scoring a try in the win against Japan and another against Australia a week later. In total he has 13 tries across his 16 games but says he is a much more "consistent" player now than he was when he earned his last cap. "The main [area of improvement] was the high ball because that was a big thing that didn't get me into the World Cup, I felt like," Cokanasiga said. "That was for me a blessing in disguise, because I came back and worked on that massively and just keep going back over my hand-eye. "Now I feel like I've improved massively on it and it's a part of the game I look forward to." Cokanasiga will start on the wing against French Top 14 side Lyon on Friday night (20:00 BST) as Premiership leaders Bath look to clinch their second trophy of the season in the European Challenge Cup final, having also been part of the squad that won the Premiership Rugby Cup in February. He scored a scintillating try last weekend as they thrashed Leicester 43-15 in the league, running from deep in his own half after Max Ojomoh's interception. Bath head of rugby Johann van Graan said Cokanasiga has become a "more rounded player" during his tenure at the club. "He's by far the biggest winger that I've coached but Joe's got this amazing ability to finish tries, he's got this hunger to get better," he said. "We've ID'd certain bits of his game he needs to get better and he's become a much more all-round player." Cokanasiga agreed his consistency across the pitch has come with the more experienced he has become. "As I've gotten older my priorities have changed of how I need to perform in the game," he said. "Then we've got people like [Bath attack coach] Lee Blackett that has a different view of the game than I do and that's helped me improve massively. "Johann's someone I can go and speak to about anything and let everything out, he can be honest with me, I can be honest with him, same with Lee and JP [Ferreira, defence coach]. "They give you a lot of confidence and that's massive in players."
CNA
20-05-2025
- Sport
- CNA
Former England fullback Brown to retire
Former England fullback Mike Brown will retire from rugby at the end of this season, his club Leicester Tigers said on Tuesday, and the 39-year-old is bowing out with a call for unity to the game's authorities. Brown made 72 appearances for England between 2007 and 2018, winning three Six Nations titles and being named Player of the Championship in 2014, the only English player to receive the award. "After a great deal of reflection, the time feels right to step away from professional rugby and officially retire from the game that has shaped my life in so many ways," Brown said in a letter posted on Leicester's website. Brown spent 16 years at Harlequins, winning two Premiership titles and a European Challenge Cup, before joining Newcastle Falcons in 2021 for one season and signing for Leicester in 2023. He was excluded from England's training camp before the 2019 World Cup after an altercation with teammate Ben Te'o, and neither player made the tournament squad under coach Eddie Jones. Brown's letter included a plea to club owners, league executives and the sport's governing bodies. "My hope is that you come together, think beyond the short term, and make the bold, unselfish decisions needed to allow rugby to thrive once again," he wrote.
Reuters
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Former England fullback Brown to retire
May 20 (Reuters) - Former England fullback Mike Brown will retire from rugby at the end of this season, his club Leicester Tigers said on Tuesday, and the 39-year-old is bowing out with a call for unity to the game's authorities. Brown made 72 appearances for England between 2007 and 2018, winning three Six Nations titles and being named Player of the Championship in 2014, the only English player to receive the award. "After a great deal of reflection, the time feels right to step away from professional rugby and officially retire from the game that has shaped my life in so many ways," Brown said in a letter posted on Leicester's website. Brown spent 16 years at Harlequins, winning two Premiership titles and a European Challenge Cup, before joining Newcastle Falcons in 2021 for one season and signing for Leicester in 2023. He was excluded from England's training camp before the 2019 World Cup after an altercation with teammate Ben Te'o, and neither player made the tournament squad under coach Eddie Jones. Brown's letter included a plea to club owners, league executives and the sport's governing bodies. "My hope is that you come together, think beyond the short term, and make the bold, unselfish decisions needed to allow rugby to thrive once again," he wrote.
Daily Mail
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Harlequins head coach Danny Wilson joins Wales set-up for summer tour of Japan but will return to London club
Harlequins head coach Danny Wilson will be a part of Wales' coaching staff for the country's summer tour of Japan alongside his club compatriot Adam Jones. Wales, currently on a horror run of 17 Test defeats, do not have a permanent employee in charge of the team with that recruitment process ongoing. Cardiff coach Matt Sherratt will step in on an interim basis for the two July Tests with the Brave Blossoms who are now led by former England boss Eddie Jones. Sherratt stepped in for Wales' final three games of the Six Nations earlier this year after the departure of Warren Gatland and will do so again in the weeks to come. Wilson and Jones will assist him as forwards and scrum coaches respectively on loan from Harlequins. Jones did the same role with Wales in the Six Nations. Gethin Jenkins (defence) and TR Thomas (forwards assistant) will also head to the Far East as part of Sherratt's staff. Jonathan Humphreys and Mike Forshaw, the forwards and defence coaches in the Six Nations, have not been offered new Wales deals and will move on. New Welsh Rugby Union director of rugby Dave Reddin is leading the search for Wales' next permanent head coach, but any appointment won't be in place until the November Tests at the earliest. It is understood that after being confirmed in his new role last month, Reddin has started the head coach recruitment process from scratch. Wilson and Jones will both return to their roles at Harlequins for the start of the 2025/26 season, as will Sherratt and Jenkins with Cardiff and Thomas with Gloucester. WRU chief executive Abi Tierney said: 'We are very grateful to Matt for agreeing to pick up the reins again on an interim basis for the Japan tour. 'The impact and positive difference he made to the squad in a very short period of time during the Six Nations was welcomed. 'It was a tough campaign but we know we are in safe hands whilst we complete the final stages of our recruitment process for a new permanent head coach.' Captain Jac Morgan and first-choice scrum-half Tomos Williams were the only Welsh players selected for this summer's British & Irish Lions tour of Australia. They won't travel to Japan as a result. Hooker Dewi Lake takes over as skipper of what looks a weak squad on paper. Jones and Japan – only one place behind Wales in World Rugby's rankings – will really fancy their chances of an upset. Wales will be without key forwards Daf Jenkins, Will Rowlands, Adam Beard and Henry Thomas. Exeter lock Jenkins will have elective surgery this summer, while his fellow second rows Rowlands and Montpellier-bound Beard are being rested. Without them, Wales' party lacks size. Gareth Anscombe, Max Llewellyn, Jarrod Evans, Ellis Mee, Eddie James and James Botham – who were all involved in the Six Nations squad – are notable omissions for Japan due to a combination of injury, moves abroad and non-selection. There are six uncapped players in Liam Belcher, Chris Coleman, Keelan Giles, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Garyn Phillips and Macs Page. Wilson is a former Cardiff and Wales Under-20 head coach. He said: 'Coaching rugby at international level is a great honour and opportunity. 'Wales' summer tour is a fantastic chance to return to the international game for a short period, learn from others in the environment and ultimately develop myself further as a coach. 'I'm grateful to the Welsh Rugby Union for the opportunity and to Harlequins for allowing me to undertake the short-term role during our off-season. 'We'll return to the club in the first week of a long pre-season campaign to begin our preparations for the 2025/26 season.'
Telegraph
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
‘Mr Angry' Mike Brown retires with parting shot at rugby chiefs
Mike Brown, the Leicester Tigers and former England full-back, will retire at the end of the season and signed off a 20-year professional career with a parting shot at the game's authorities. Following in the wake of current and former team-mates Ben Youngs, Joe Marler and Danny Care, Brown will bow out at the end of this campaign. The 39-year-old has made the fourth-most appearances in Premiership history (280) behind only Richard Wigglesworth, Care and Saracens' Alex Goode, his long-time rival at full-back for club and country. Occasionally, his spiky attitude rubbed people up the wrong way. He fell out with former England head coach Eddie Jones before the 2019 World Cup and claimed to have felt 'disrespected' in the manner in which he left Harlequins after 14 years in 2021. True to form, Brown – known as 'Mr Angry' for his feisty demeanour on the pitch – announced his retirement with a call for those who run the game to stop acting in their own self-interest. 'Club owners, league executives, national and international governing body senior leadership, my hope is that you come together, think beyond the short term, and make the bold, unselfish decisions needed to allow rugby to thrive once again,' Brown wrote in an open letter. 'We have a responsibility to protect and grow this incredible game, so future generations can experience everything it has to offer – just as I have. 'Media figures, pundits, former players, commentators, I urge you to continue helping shift the negative narrative around rugby. Let's talk more about the brilliant action, the big hits, the electric tries, the unbelievable skill, the fierce rivalries, and the amazing characters who make our game special. Rugby is full of passion, drama, and world-class athletes giving their all. By celebrating what makes our sport great, we can inspire the next generation, bring more fans through the gates, grow the game and remind everyone why we fell in love with it in the first place.' Brown played in 72 Tests and was England's undisputed first-choice full-back from 2013 through to the end of 2018. Brown was a rock both under the high ball and as the last line of defence while he brought a snarling belligerence to an England team that were sometimes seen as too nice. He made his debut in the 2005-06 campaign and within two seasons had made his debut for England on the 2007 tour to South Africa. His high point with England arguably came in the 2013-14 season in which he was voted England's Man of the Series in the autumn followed by winning the Six Nations Player of the Championship in 2014. He remains the only Englishman to have won the award. Even after Jones took over from Stuart Lancaster, Brown remained a foundational piece of England's team but was dropped for the first time for an autumn Test against South Africa in 2018. He was then axed from a 2019 World Cup training camp following an altercation with Ben Te'o, although he later accused Jones of using that incident as an excuse for dropping him. 'I think it was just easier for Eddie to put it on that, as I'd kind of been getting pushed out of the team as that season had gone on,' Brown told Rugby Pass in 2022. At Harlequins, Brown won Premiership titles in 2012 and 2021 as well as the Challenge Cup in 2011. Following a brief spell at Newcastle under former Quins director of rugby Dean Richards, Brown joined Leicester midway through the 2022-23 season. In his letter released by Leicester, Brown wrote: 'After a great deal of reflection, the time feels right to step away from professional rugby and officially retire from the game that has shaped my life in so many ways. 'It's impossible to fully express what rugby has meant to me. From the very beginning, it gave me purpose, drive, and belonging – and instilled values that have shaped who I am on and off the pitch. For more than two decades, I've been lucky enough to live out my dream, and I'm incredibly proud of everything I've experienced and achieved throughout this journey. 'There have been unforgettable highs – those moments at Twickenham, hard-fought wins with Harlequins, the honour of pulling on the England shirt, and representing the history and tradition of Leicester Tigers. And there have been challenges too, moments that tested me deeply. But even the lowest points helped me grow in ways I never imagined. Every single moment – good or tough – has shaped me into the person I am today.'
