Eddie Jones to run rule over England as ITV pundit during Six Nations

Eddie Jones will cast a critical eye over England’s make-or-break Six Nations campaign with the former head coach signed as an ITV pundit for the forthcoming championship.

Jones was sacked as England head coach in late 2022 and was lined up for a TV job for the 2023 Six Nations, only to agree to an ill-fated spell in charge of Australia. Having left the ­Wallabies in November 2023, he returned to Japan for a second term at the helm of the Brave Blossoms but will join the ITV team for this year’s competition.

The 64-year-old guided England to three Six Nations titles including the 2016 grand slam and coached against his former side at Twickenham for the first time last November, Japan losing 59-14. Jones alleged that “some clown abused me going down the stairs” at half-time of that match.

Afterwards, Jones was complimen­tary in his praise of England under Steve Borthwick – who served as his assistant for four and a half years – but the current head coach is under considerable pressure after just five wins from 12 matches in 2024 and a run of five successive defeats before beating Japan.

During the autumn internationals, Jones came under fire amid claims from the former England scrum-half Danny Care in his autobiography that the Australian oversaw a toxic environment, ran a “dictatorship” and acted like a “despot who disappeared people” by bullying staff members and players. In response, Jones brushed off the allegations and joked that he would publish his own book “Caring About Care”.

Jones is ITV’s marquee pundit in a lineup that includes the World Cup winner Jonny Wilkinson. Jones’s old sparring partner Sir Clive Woodward will not feature, however, having stepped back following the 2023 World Cup.

ITV will broadcast four of England’s five games, including their daunting opener against Ireland in Dublin on 1 February in what could be the final championship shown entirely on free-to-air TV. The ­tender process for the rights for future championships is expected to be completed this year with organisers believed to be open to an arrangement that would see some of the tournament behind a paywall while some remains free to air. Representatives from the BBC and ITV have both acknowledged that competing with pay broadcasters to retain the Six Nations will prove difficult.

Tuipulotu blow for Scotland

In a major blow to Scotland, it was revealed that the centre and captain, Sione Tuipulotu, will miss the entire Six Nations because of a chest injury. Tuipulotu is to have surgery on the pectoral muscle that was ­damaged in training for Glasgow Warriors last week.

The 27-year-old is clear ­favourite to claim the No 12 jersey for the British & Irish Lions in Australia this summer so his expected return towards the end of the season will come as a relief to the tourists’ head coach, Andy Farrell. Lock Scott Cummings could also be unavailable for the whole Six Nations after he fractured his arm in Glasgow’s 24-7 defeat by Harlequins on Saturday night. With Tuipulotu unavailable, Rory Darge and Finn ­Russell will co-captain Scotland in the campaign that begins against Italy at Murrayfield on 1 February. PA Media

Sione Tuipulotu will miss the Six Nations due to injury. Photograph: Andrew Milligan/PA

Morrow to join England staff

England have appointed Phil Morrow as their head of team performance to fill the vacancy created by Aled Walters’ departure for Ireland. Morrow will join Borthwick’s coaching staff upon completion of Saracens’ season where he has been employed as head of strength and conditioning and performance director since 2011. He also brings experience from working on the 2017 British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand and from his time as head of fitness for the Irish Rugby Football Union.

“Phil is widely recognised as one of the most accomplished and respected figures in the game,” Borthwick said. “His track record of success with Saracens speaks for itself. Phil has dedicated his career to helping players maximise their physical performance and is known for his relentless drive and ability to push standards to the highest level.” PA Media

Lynn appointed Wales women’s coach

Sean Lynn, who masterminded back-to-back Premiership Women’s Rugby titles as Gloucester-Hartpury coach in the past two seasons, has been appointed as the Wales women’s head coach.

The Welsh Rugby Union said that Lynn, who has agreed a three-year contract, will switch full-time to Wales ahead of the Six Nations, which begins in March. Ioan Cunningham left his role in November, while Nigel Walker resigned as the WRU’s executive director of rugby just before Christmas.

Those departures came following a turbulent spell last year that saw the WRU’s handling of now-completed contract negotiations for its top female players fiercely criticised. Lynn’s arrival comes on the back of former the PWR chief executive Belinda Moore taking a newly created post as the WRU’s head of women’s rugby.

The Six Nations, which Wales begin against Scotland on 22 March, is followed by the England-hosted World Cup during August and September, with Wales in a tough pool alongside Scotland, Canada and Fiji. Lynn said: “I am Welsh and I’m coming home, and you don’t need me to tell you what this means to me.” PA Media