Eddie Jones begins England staff rebuild by adding Martin Gleeson
Martin Gleeson will join Eddie Jones’ England staff as attack coach from August 9, freeing up defence coach John Mitchell to move in the opposite direction and link up with Wasps as their new attack coach. Ex-rugby league star Gleeson had been touted for an England switch since last April and a deal has now been sealed as Jones kickstarts the rebuild of his backroom staff ahead of next November’s series of internationals.
The England attack coach position had been vacant for some months following the post-Six Nations exit of Simon Amor. Skills coach Jason Ryles also cut his ties after he decided not to join up from Australia due to the pandemic while there have also been recent reports that head analyst Joe Lewis has left for personal reasons.
With forwards coach Matt Proudfoot the only remaining full-time member of Jones staff, it was reported last week that the England boss had met out-of-work Richard Cockerill at a Leicestershire cafe with a view to fleshing out his threadbare backroom.
Worcester’s new defence and kicking coach Mark Jones, the ex-Wales player who helped coached the Crusaders to Super Rugby titles, has also been mentioned as another possible recruit, but it’s the recruitment of Gleeson that is the first deal to be inked by the RFU, an agreement with Wasps which allows Mitchell to begin work at the Premiership club next week rather than after November’s international series as was initially indicated.
An RFU statement read: “Martin Gleeson will join the England senior coaching set-up as attack coach. Gleeson joins from Wasps where he has been attack coach since 2019. He enjoyed a successful rugby league playing career, representing both Britain and England.
Cafe rendezvous reportedly took place just eight days after Cockerill exited Edinburgh on July 19 "by mutual consent to pursue other opportunities"
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 29, 2021
“Gleeson played for Huddersfield Giants, St Helens, Warrington Wolves, Wigan Warriors, Hull FC and Salford City Reds, winning the Super League twice (2002 and 2010) and the Challenge Cup in 2004. He moved into coaching with Salford in 2014 before joining Wasps. Gleeson will begin working with Eddie Jones and the wider England staff on Monday, August 9. Following Gleeson’s arrival, John Mitchell will also join Wasps on August 9.”
Gleeson said: “As a player, you always want to represent your country at the highest level and it’s no different for a coach. This is something I have strived for and coaching England is the pinnacle. I’d like to thank everyone at Wasps for my time there, in particular Lee Blackett who took me under his wing after coming from rugby league and has supported me in taking this opportunity. Now I’m looking forward to working with Eddie, the staff and some of the best players in the world, helping them in their development and achieving their ultimate goals.”
Jones, who is currently spending a few days working with Italian club Benetton, added: “We are building a coaching team to win the 2023 Rugby World Cup. We have five campaigns to go before then so every appointment from here on in is very important. We’re starting with Martin as attack coach.
“He is a bright young rugby coach with experience at the highest level in league so he will add significant power to the team. He has done extremely well with Wasps and he will come in and build on the good work that Simon Amor started with us. I look forward to welcoming him to the coaching team.”
The England boss is off on his travels again this month… https://t.co/NnLh5EHhZy
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 4, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
One tough SOB!
15 Go to commentsI’ve put on 4/5 kilos since the beginning of the season too. Not good kilos. Bad kilos.
1 Go to commentsSurely there’s a ‘no knobheads’ policy ?
2 Go to commentsWallaroos have no chance of beating the Black Ferns unless Canada upsets them in Christchurch tomorrow but I doubt that as well!
1 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Could the victim do a course to reverse the long term CTE damage from the cheapshot?
2 Go to commentsTruely great player. In social media and opinion pieces he was held up and flogged for the results. People wanted someone to crucify, and he was the captain. He was still an immense presence respected by his peers. His battles with Siya Kolisi belong up with with Collins vs Burger in my opinion. Unlucky to be carded in the final, but I don’t agree that his red card was the defining moment. Not when you look at the dominant performances of the Springboks (PSDT in particular.) I think Cane should be remembered for the spirit and physicality that is special to test rugby.
15 Go to commentsSam was the man until he got injured .
15 Go to comments_Crusaders versus Leinster _at the moment might be a rout! But I would like to see the Blues play Toulouse, the Hurricanes front up against Stade Francais, and the Chiefs go against Toulon.
157 Go to commentsLove it when we overlap! Promise it was not forethought.
18 Go to commentsjfc can this guy plz stay out of the news for one week
2 Go to commentsIf stormers aren’t available. Based on form and likely availability at the time of the wales Test, you’d think Masuku would be a no-brainer to start. But starting Jordan also makes sense having Masuku come off the bench to close out the game.
2 Go to commentsGlad Tom Curry not playing needs time to recover such a great player also his brother Ben how well is he playing now .
1 Go to commentsLet’s examine what might be irking the brainless E: Up until 20 years before this coming Julys tests: 16 games: 14 wins for SA; 1 win for Ire; 1 draw From 20 years until July’ tests Ireland V SA: 13 matches Ireland won 8; SA won 4; 1 draw Points scored Ireland 261; SA 189 Ave Winning Margin: Ireland 11 points; SA 4 points (away 3, home 6) Away win record: Ireland 33.33%; SA 25% Neutral matches 1: Ireland win RWC France 2023. Last SA win June 2016 (8 years ago) They boast 3 World cups in that period (they do boast). The above record is not good, probably not much better than theirs against NZ for same period. That’s why the dopey E is starting fights in his head. He will probably ship a yellow when things don’t go their way in the first test.
127 Go to commentsGoode is like a wet fart on The Rugby Pod and should be shoved aside. Jim knows what he is on about and can get on better without Goode’s nasty little cheap shots.
127 Go to commentsBrumbies will win, crusaders are pretty awful this year
1 Go to commentsThis has the makings of a good match. That’s Leinster’s second team but its a good one (stronger than the teams in SA recently). Ulster are really turning a page. Ryan back is huge, and Keenan too. This could be a cracker.
1 Go to commentsThe Farrells are one of the great father and son combinations. Andy was an RL great, and had he played Union as his first sport, I would be sure he would have been avery significant forcewas in League. And Owen, a Union great, who had he played League, would could have been a great there too i all probability. I feel my attitude to Owen has mellowed as he has aged, and in the post Jones era, evolved and shown his full range of talents. He really is an all round player, and I have wold hope his move to France will be successful. He may even be the piece in the jigsaw that Racing need to rise to challenge Toulouse and LAR. He is ofc now approaching 33 years of age but should still have enough left to make a big contribution in France for at least2/3 years.
45 Go to commentsI reckon it may be Jordan at 10 and Nohamba at 9, both players have played together alot and both have been on the Radar for a long time. After Pollard got injured in 2022 with Elton sidelined on a path of self destruction Erasmus and Nienaber indicated that the other options in the country at the time were thin but that Jordan and Manie were the 2 they were looking at. In the end Frans steyn played flyhalf, Willemse slotted in there on the end of year with Libbok as back up. Jordan was right there in the thinking back then so expect him to take the Jersey either as the starter.
2 Go to commentsHaha did he also* say it in a sarcastic teacher sort of manor or was it the petulant English snob sort of wail?
45 Go to commentsWell said Mils. It is a big boost at last having Fergus Burke back at 10 for the Crusaders. Had a great season last year as the article says. Mils is also right about captain Codie Taylor’s performance in his return to the Crusaders last week. He was all class.
4 Go to comments