Episode #194: Eddie Jones, Japan Men's National Rugby Team Head Coach

Eddie’s coaching of Japan to defeat South Africa against their hometown advantage in South Africa, was a breakthrough moment for Japanese rugby, which until that point had never managed to win a game at that level.


Eddie started his coaching career at Randwick as an assistant coach in 1994. He coached Tokai University as an assistant coach in 1995-96, was assistant coach for Japan in 1996, coached the Suntory Sungoliath team in 1997, the ACT Brumbies from 1998-2001, Australia from 2001-2005, Saracens in 2006, the Queensland Reds in 2007, South Africa in 2007, Saracens again in 2007-209, Suntory Sungoliaths again from 2009-2012, Japan from 2012-2015, the Stormers in 2015, England from 2015-2022, Australia in 2023 and Japan from 2024.


Over the 9 years Eddie has spent leading in Japan, he has amassed a very detailed understanding of high performance team coaching for this market, especially for young Japanese people. Leading this younger generation is a new challenge for most of us and yet Eddie has spent his whole career working out how to lead young men in their twenties. He is probably the most expert person in Japan in this field and someone we can learn a lot from.


Eddie credits his training as a High School teacher, as helping him a great deal when he became a rugby coach. He is a constant student of leadership and permanently curious, as to how he can improve his abilities.