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Felix Jones (rugby union)

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Felix Jones
Date of birth (1987-08-05) 5 August 1987 (age 37)
Place of birthDublin, Ireland
Height1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight90 kg (14 st; 200 lb)
SchoolSt. Andrew's College
UniversityUniversity College Dublin
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fullback, Wing
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
Seapoint ()
– Old Belvedere ()
– Shannon ()
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2008–2009 Leinster 1 (0)
2009–2015 Munster 90 (50)
Correct as of 3 October 2015
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2007 Ireland U20 5 (15)
2009–2015 Ireland Wolfhounds 5 (10)
2011–2015 Ireland 13 (15)
Correct as of 30 August 2015
Coaching career
Years Team
2016–2017 Munster (Technical coach)
2017–2019 Munster (Backs coach)
2019–2023 South Africa (Coaching consultant)
2023–2024 England (Assistant Coach)

Felix Jones (born 5 August 1987) is an Irish rugby union coach and former player. He played primarily as a fullback, but could also play on the wing. In October 2015, Jones was forced to retire from rugby due to a neck injury.[1] He moved into coaching after retiring from playing, and is currently Defence coach with the England national team. He is the great-grandson of Alfred Edwin Jones.

Early life and education

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Jones father is a conservation architect.[2]

Jones played mini-rugby for Seapoint and continued to play for the club right up to the take-off of his professional career. He was a member of Seapoint's All-Ireland Junior Cup-winning team in 2007.[3] He attended St. Andrew's College in Dublin, where he played for the schools Junior and Senior Cup teams.[citation needed]

Jones holds a master's degree in Sport, Exercise and Performance Psychology from the University of Limerick.[4]

Rugby playing career

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Leinster

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Jones played for Leinster's under-19 team (2 caps), under-20 team (4 caps) and A team (13 caps) before making his Leinster first XV debut against Connacht in February 2008.[citation needed]

Munster

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Jones made his Munster debut against Glasgow Warriors in September 2009[5] and played 6 games before injuring his neck against Connacht in December 2009. Jones made his comeback against Aironi in September 2010, and played 3 games before injuring his knee against Ospreys in the same month. He was out until March 2011. He made his European debut for Munster against Brive in April 2011.[6] Jones was part of the Munster team that won the 2010–11 Magners League.[7]

Jones made his comeback from the injury that ruled him out of the 2011 Rugby World Cup on 10 February 2012, playing 80 minutes for Shannon in their AIL game against Young Munster.[8] He made his comeback for Munster in a Pro12 fixture against Treviso on 18 February 2012.[9] Jones made his Heineken Cup debut in the quarter-final against Ulster on 8 April 2012. He missed Munster's league play-off semi-final against Ospreys on 11 May 2012 when he picked up a shoulder injury in training.[10] The shoulder injury ruled him out for at least 4 months, as it required surgery.[11]

Jones returned from the injury on 13 October 2012, playing a full 80 minutes for Munster A. He then came off the bench in Munster's second round Heineken Cup tie against Edinburgh on 21 October 2012. Jones underwent successful knee surgery in late January 2013, and is expected to be back in action for Munster by March 2013.[12] He signed a two-year contract extension with Munster in February 2013.[13] Jones captained Munster in their 21–10 win against Treviso on 12 September 2014.[14][15]

Ireland

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An injury to Luke Fitzgerald gave Jones a call-up to the Ireland under-20 team which went on to achieve a Grand Slam in the 2007 Six Nations Under 20s Championship, with Jones scoring two tries in the opening fixture against Wales.[16] In total, Jones earned 5 caps for the Ireland Under-20 team.[citation needed]

Jones represented Ireland A three times and was a member of the squad which won the Churchill Cup in 2009.[17]

Jones was selected in Ireland's squad for the 2011 Rugby World Cup warm-ups in August.[18] He earned his first cap as a substitute in the game against Scotland on 6 August 2011.[19] His second cap came against France on 13 August 2011, again as a substitute. His first start for Ireland came against France on 20 August. However, an ankle ligament injury sustained in an awkward fall against France dashed Jones's hopes of playing at the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, as the injury ruled him out for the duration of the tournament.[20]

Jones was named in the Ireland squad for the 2013 Ireland tour to North America on 19 May 2013.[21] He came off the bench against the USA on 8 June 2013.[22] Jones started in Ireland's 40–14 victory against Canada on 15 June 2013.[23]

Jones was called up as injury-cover to Ireland's squad for the 2013 Guinness Series on 19 November 2013.[24]

Jones started for Ireland Wolfhounds in their friendly against England Saxons on 25 January 2014.[25] On 27 January 2014, Jones was named in Ireland's 34-man squad for the opening two fixtures of the 2014 Six Nations Championship.[26]

Jones was named in the Ireland squad for their 2014 Tour to Argentina on 19 May 2014.[27] He started the first test against Argentina on 7 June 2014.

Jones was named in the Ireland squad for the 2014 Guinness Series on 21 October 2014.[28] Jones came off the bench during the 29–15 win against South Africa on 8 November 2014.[29] He started against Georgia on 16 November 2014, scoring two tries in the 49–7 win.[30] Jones came on in the 26–23 win against Australia on 22 November 2014.[31]

Jones captained Ireland Wolfhounds in their game against England Saxons on 30 January 2015.[32] He was named in the Ireland squad for the opening rounds of the 2015 Six Nations Championship on 1 February 2015.[33] He came off the bench against Italy on 7 February 2015.[34] Jones came off the bench in the 19–9 win against England on 1 March 2015.[35] England's failure to score enough points against France meant Ireland won the 2015 Six Nations Championship, the first time Ireland have won back-to-back championships since 1948–49.[36] Jones was nominated for the IRUPA Medal For Excellence 2015 in April 2015.[37]

Jones was named in the 45-man training squad for the 2015 Rugby World Cup on 24 June 2015.[38] He started in the first World Cup warm-up against Wales on 8 August 2015, scoring a try in the 35–21 win for Ireland.[39] Jones came off the bench in the warm-up game against Wales on 29 August 2015.[40]

Retirement

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Jones retired in 2015 after a neck injury.[41]

Rugby coaching career

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Munster

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Jones was recommended for a coaching position at Munster by Ireland coach Joe Schmidt.[42] He joined the Munster coaching team ahead of the 2016–17 season as a technical coach. After helping Munster reach the semi-finals of the 2016–17 European Rugby Champions Cup and the 2017 Pro12 Grand Final, he signed a two-year contract extension with the province which saw his role expand to backs and attack coach. He left Munster's coaching staff in June 2019.[43]

Ireland

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While with Munster, Jones also assisted Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt with the national teams tour of Japan in June 2017.[44][4]

South Africa

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Ahead of the 2019 Rugby World Cup, Jones joined the South African national team as a defence consultant.

South Africa's head coach at the time was Rassie Erasmus, who previously was director of rugby at Munster when Jones began his coaching career with the province.[45][46] Erasmus recruited Jones in part for his analysis of northern hemisphere opposition defences.[47] Erasmus had proposed that Jones — then only 30 — be his replacement as Munsters director of rugby.[48]

South Africa went on to win the 2019 Rugby World Cup defeating England in the final 32-12.[49] Jones continued with South Africa, winning a second world cup in 2023.

Jones has said that one area of his coaching that developed whilst working with South Africa was winning collisions.[50]

England

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In 2023 Jones joined the England national team as an assistant coach under head coach Steve Borthwick.[51] He resigned from England in August 2024, citing being unhappy with the “turmoil” on the team.[52]

Coaching style

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Jones has been credited with high work rate, detailed analysis, and empathy with players.[48]

Jones has cited Rob Penney as an important influence,[53] and credited Anthony Foley, Jerry Flannery, Rassie Erasmus, Jacques Nienaber and Joe Schmidt with helping his coaching develop.[41][54]

Personal life

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Jones and his partner Lyanne have 2 sons.[55][54][53]

Honours

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Munster

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Ireland A

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Ireland

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South Africa

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References

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  1. ^ "Jones Forced To Retire". Munster Rugby. 28 October 2015. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
  2. ^ Dromey, Trish (20 August 2020). "Former Munster rugby player's home in historic setting for €775,000". Irish Examiner.
  3. ^ Seapoint lift AIB Junior Cup leinsterrugby.ie
  4. ^ a b "Felix Jones: Ten things you should know about the England assistant". Rugby World. 12 January 2024.
  5. ^ "Munster Falter In Firhill". munsterrugby.ie. 4 September 2011. Archived from the original on 16 June 2012. Retrieved 9 September 2011.
  6. ^ "Munster Show More Than A Little Courage". munsterrugby.ie. 10 April 2011. Archived from the original on 8 September 2011. Retrieved 9 September 2011.
  7. ^ "Munster Crowned Magners League Champions". munsterrugby.ie. 28 May 2011. Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 9 September 2011.
  8. ^ "Jones Comes Through First Game Back". munsterrugby.ie. 13 February 2012. Archived from the original on 6 September 2012. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
  9. ^ "Bonus Point Win For Munster in Treviso". munsterrugby.ie. 18 February 2012. Archived from the original on 23 February 2012. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
  10. ^ "Munster Forced To Reshuffle". munsterrugby.ie. 11 May 2012. Archived from the original on 14 May 2012. Retrieved 12 May 2012.
  11. ^ "Jones Injury Woe Continues". munsterrugby.ie. 15 May 2012. Archived from the original on 21 May 2012. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
  12. ^ "Players On The Mend". munsterrugby.ie. 30 January 2013. Archived from the original on 18 February 2013. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
  13. ^ "Jones And Varley Extend Contracts". munsterrugby.ie. 15 February 2013. Archived from the original on 12 April 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
  14. ^ "Jones To Captain Munster". munsterrugby.ie. 11 September 2014. Archived from the original on 13 September 2014. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  15. ^ "Munster Pass Treviso Test". munsterrugby.ie. 12 September 2014. Archived from the original on 13 September 2014. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  16. ^ "Wales U20 15–17 Ireland U20". BBC Sport. 2 February 2007. Retrieved 17 June 2011.
  17. ^ "Ireland 'A' Win Churchill Cup". leinsterrugby.ie. 21 June 2009. Retrieved 9 September 2011.
  18. ^ "Horgan suffers Rugby World Cup blow". ESPNscrum. 17 June 2011. Retrieved 17 June 2011.
  19. ^ "Scotland 10–6 Ireland". espnscrum.com. 6 August 2011. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
  20. ^ "Jones World Cup Hopes Shattered". munsterrugby.ie. 21 August 2011. Archived from the original on 18 November 2011. Retrieved 21 August 2011.
  21. ^ "Ireland Squads Announced For Summer Tours". irishrugby.ie. 19 May 2013. Retrieved 19 May 2013.
  22. ^ "O'Mahony Leads Young Guns To Victory in Tour Opener". irishrugby.ie. 9 June 2013. Archived from the original on 18 October 2013. Retrieved 9 June 2013.
  23. ^ "McFadden Hat-Trick Helps Ireland Surge Clear of Canada". irishrugby.ie. 16 June 2013. Archived from the original on 21 June 2013. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
  24. ^ "McFadden out of All Blacks contest as BOD declares: "No one gives us a chance"". independent.ie. 19 November 2013. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
  25. ^ "Wolfhounds Hold On For Hard-Fought Victory". irishrugby.ie. 25 January 2014. Archived from the original on 28 January 2014. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  26. ^ "34-Man Ireland Squad Named". irishrugby.ie. 27 January 2014. Archived from the original on 30 January 2014. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
  27. ^ "Ireland Squad Named For Argentina". munsterrugby.ie. 19 May 2014. Archived from the original on 19 May 2014. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  28. ^ "Ireland Name 37 Man Squad For Guinness Series". irishrugby.ie. 21 October 2014. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  29. ^ "Clinical Ireland Claim Springbok Scalp". irishrugby.ie. 8 November 2014. Archived from the original on 8 November 2014. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  30. ^ "Ireland Outgun Georgia With Six-Try Second Half Salvo". irishrugby.ie. 16 November 2014. Archived from the original on 2 December 2015. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
  31. ^ "Thrilling Win Seals Series Clean Sweep For Ireland". irishrugby.ie. 22 November 2014. Archived from the original on 26 November 2014. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
  32. ^ "Wolfhounds Defeat As Irish Independent Park Opens". munsterrugby.ie. 31 January 2015. Archived from the original on 7 February 2015. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  33. ^ "Ireland Name 38-Man Squad For Six Nations Opening Rounds". irishrugby.ie. 1 February 2015. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  34. ^ "Murray And O'Donnell Tries Steer Ireland To Rome Win". irishrugby.ie. 7 February 2015. Archived from the original on 22 February 2015. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
  35. ^ "Henshaw's First Try Sees Ireland Overcome England". irishrugby.ie. 1 March 2015. Archived from the original on 3 March 2015. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  36. ^ "Thrilling Title Finish Sees Ireland Crowned Champions Again". irishrugby.ie. 21 March 2015. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
  37. ^ "IRUPA Nominations For O'Connell, Murray, Hurley & Jones". munsterrugby.ie. 16 April 2015. Archived from the original on 17 April 2015. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  38. ^ "9 Munster Players Ireland Training Squad". munsterrugby.ie. 24 June 2015. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  39. ^ "Ireland Win Opening Warm-Up Clash In Cardiff". irishrugby.ie. 8 August 2015. Archived from the original on 29 August 2015. Retrieved 8 August 2015.
  40. ^ "Tipuric And Halfpenny Guide Wales To Dublin Victory". irishrugby.ie. 29 August 2015. Archived from the original on 31 August 2015. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
  41. ^ a b "The 'addiction' driving the double World Cup winner set to join England's coaching staff | The Independent".
  42. ^ "Jones rejects surprising Springbok offer". 11 January 2018.
  43. ^ "Coaching Duo To Leave The Province". Munster Rugby. 7 May 2019. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
  44. ^ "Contract Extensions for Backroom Team". munsterrugby.ie. 13 June 2017. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  45. ^ "Irishman Felix Jones will be involved in the World Cup final at the age of 32". The42. 29 October 2019. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  46. ^ "Ex-Ireland fullback Jones agrees deal to remain with Springboks". The42. 24 January 2020. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  47. ^ O'Brien, Brendan (26 September 2019). "Why Rassie Erasmus parachuted Felix Jones into Springboks coaching set-up". Irish Examiner.
  48. ^ a b O’Reilly, Peter (30 August 2024). "An Irishman who has won the World Cup: meet South Africa's attack coach Felix Jones". www.thetimes.com.
  49. ^ Kitson, Robert (2 November 2019). "Rugby World Cup: South Africa surge to glory as England fall short". The Observer. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  50. ^ Grace, Ryan (27 October 2023). "Felix Jones on time with South Africa and targeting a second World Cup". SportsJOE.ie.
  51. ^ "Felix Jones: England's next assistant coach and Springboks' secret weapon". TheGuardian.com. 25 October 2023. Retrieved 25 October 2019.
  52. ^ "Felix Jones: England defence coach quits role after seven months". BBC.com. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  53. ^ a b Kitson, Robert (25 October 2023). "Felix Jones: England's next assistant coach and Springboks' secret weapon" – via The Guardian.
  54. ^ a b Lewis, Simon (30 May 2023). "Felix Jones: I owe Rassie and Jacques absolutely everything". Irish Examiner.
  55. ^ Kinsella, Murray (29 October 2023). "'It feels a bit surreal' - Jones earns second RWC winner's medal". The 42.
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