Quit this job to be mentored by Eddie? No thanks
Richard cockerill underlined his commitment to Edinburgh yesterday and dismissed out of the hand the idea of working under England coach Eddie Jones.
The rFU want Jones to stay in his role as head coach for two years after the 2019 World cup, with a replacement coming in to work under him in a transition phase.
interim rFU cEO Nigel Melville revealed they are looking for a ‘hands-on’ English successor and namechecked cockerill as a potential candidate.
cockerill admits coaching at international level appeals to him but vowed to see out his Edinburgh contract and railed at the suggestion he needed a mentor.
‘i am not sure any coach would want to be mentored for two years by Eddie,’ said cockerill, who is contracted until 2021. ‘it’s not how it works. i am an Englishman and a very proud Englishman but my job is a pro coach and i will do whatever is best for Edinburgh.’
cockerill, who has coached at Leicester Tigers, Toulon and now Edinburgh, said he was surprised to be named but that it was ‘nice to be mentioned in those circles’.
he said: ‘Eddie Jones is contracted at England to 2021 as i am here at Edinburgh. i’m happy to be doing what i’m doing here. i’d like to get involved in international rugby, but it certainly won’t be until my time here is up.
‘it is always nice to be mentioned in those circles but i have been mentioned before and i’m still here. There is no job to be taken.’
Melville made clear he would prefer to name an Englishman to replace Jones.
cockerill wore his heart on his sleeve for his country as a player, winning 27 caps, and is one of the few men of any nationality who has held head coach roles in three major leagues.
When asked about being one of many Englishmen in the frame, he replied: ‘We’re all English coaches coaching at a good level, and there are others. i have experience in three leagues in Europe — England, France and Scotland. But as i said, it is not something that would interest me at this point. i have a contract here which i have every intention of honouring.’
in all his years as the Tigers’ volatile director of rugby, cockerill often found himself coming to the attention of the union for disciplinary reasons but now he is being seen in a different light.
‘i have been banned enough by the rugby union,’ laughed the Edinburgh head coach.
cockerill believes he has gained a broader perspective of the game from coaching outside England.
‘Sometimes you step out and look at something with fresh eyes, when before you sometimes can’t see the wood for the trees,’ he said. ‘You can see some of the issues English rugby has.
‘There’s maybe one club making money. Should there be relegation or no relegation? do they go to conferences? i’m coaching in a conference at the moment and that goes quite well in the Pro14.
‘You get more of a wider view, you’re not in the week-to-week grind of the Premiership, just trying to make sure you have to win every week, keep your job.’