Kingsley Jones Named as Barbarians Assistant Coach for May 28th Match
Rugby Canada announced today that Kingsley Jones will be assisting Eddie Jones with the Barbarians XV in their match against the World XV on May 28th.
In Canada the question will be, what does that mean for Canada? Is he being shopped around before his contract runs out, presumably in the fall when Canada were anticipated to be at the World Cup. It was a surprise to many that he stayed on as Canada’s head coach even though failing to reach the World Cup, the first time in Canadian rugby history. The USA coach resigned when faced with a similar situation.
Nations going to the World Cup will be preparing their warm up matches for July and August. It’s not clear yet what the Canada men’s XVs team will be doing this summer, what matches have been lined up.
from Wales Online
Eddie appoints Welshman to Barbarians coaching team
Eddie Jones has appointed former Wales flanker Kingsley Jones as his Barbarians assistant coach for the showdown against a World XV coached by Steve Hansen on May 28.
Former England boss Jones is heading up the Baabaas set-up for the trip to Twickenham later this spring.
His 10-cap Welsh namesake, head coach of Canada since 2017, represented Barbarians twice as a player on the sides 2000 summer tour, facing Ireland at Lansdowne Road and then Leicester Tigers at Twickenham both of which saw the Baa-baas emerge victorious. He then acted as assistant coach to Philippe Saint-André in 2010s 29-23 triumph over Ireland at Thomond Park, and a 35-26 loss to England at Twickenham.
He said: “Coaching the Barbarians is one of the highest honours in rugby. I was lucky enough to play for the Baa-baas in 2000 which was an incredible experience and also coach them alongside Philippe Saint-Andre in 2010. So, to be part of the coaching set up again, working alongside Eddie Jones, is just amazing.
“The beauty of the Barbarians is that you get all those different players who in the past have gone toe-to-toe with each other, but are now in the same changing room its so unique. Ive known Eddie since 2007 and Ive always got on really well with him. Hes such an open-minded guy and Im sure Ill learn as much in a week as Ive learnt in many. Its always great to see other approaches to coaching, so Im really excited to do it.”
from Rugby Canada
Barbarian F.C. have appointed Kingsley Jones as Assistant Coach for this summers Killik Cup showdown against the World XV.
Jones is current Head Coach of Canadas national team and will work under Baa-baas Head Coach Eddie Jones for the clash at Twickenham Stadium on Sunday 28 May (kick-off: 3pm).
A former international flanker, Jones won ten caps for Wales and captained his country once in 1998, while also enjoying club spells with Ebbw Vale, Pontypridd, Gloucester, Worcester Warriors and Doncaster Knights.
Jones has been Head Coach of Canada since 2017, and despite a distinguished coaching career which has also seen him lead Newport Gwent Dragons, Russia, Sale Sharks and Doncaster, the 53-year-old is relishing the prospect of another week within the Barbarians environment.
Coaching the Barbarians is one of the highest honours in rugby, he said. I was lucky enough to play for the Baa-baas in 2000 which was an incredible experience and also coach them alongside Philippe Saint-Andre in 2010.
So, to be part of the coaching set up again, working alongside Eddie Jones, is just amazing.
The beauty of the Barbarians is that you get all those different players who in the past have gone toe-to-toe with each other, but are now in the same changing room its so unique. There is so much respect for each other in the changing room. No one wants to lose the respect of the man next to him, and everyone brings their A game.
Ive known Eddie since 2007 and Ive always got on really well with him. Hes such an open-minded guy and Im sure Ill learn as much in a week as Ive learnt in many. Its always great to see other approaches to coaching, so Im really excited to do it.
Its a great opportunity and Im privileged, firstly to work with Eddie, but also to work with a great bunch of players.
Jones represented Barbarian F.C. twice as a player on the sides 2000 summer tour, facing Ireland at Lansdowne Road and then Leicester Tigers at Twickenham both of which saw the Baa-baas emerge victorious.
He then acted as Assistant Coach to Philippe Saint-André in 2010s 29-23 triumph over Ireland at Thomond Park, and 35-26 loss to England at Twickenham.
Jones knows that preparing the Barbarians this summer will be a serious test when the World XV coached by All Blacks legend Steve Hansen come to London in May. He added: Ive come up against Steve once before, he came out on top when Canada faced the All Blacks a few years back in the group stages of the Rugby World Cup.
I know him pretty well from his days in Wales, and itll be great to see him. Im sure that whatever the result, well share a beer in the changing room after the game. Hes someone I have enormous respect for.
The fixture against the World XV marks the first return to HQ for the Barbarians since a stunning 52-21 victory over England in June 2022, although the invitational side retained the Killik Cup in November courtesy of a 35-31 win over an All Blacks XV in front of 35,000 people at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Head Coach Eddie Jones is delighted to have Kingsley Jones on board as he bids to extend that winning run with the Killik Cup on the line.
Were extremely motivated to put on a great show in front of a packed house at Twickenham, embracing the values and traditions which make the Barbarians so special, he said.
Kingsley is a good rugby man and Ive no doubt hell make a big impact on our group when the Barbarians come together again in May.