Gary Gold Defends Eddie Jones After Japan Suspension Controversy

Assistant coach Gary Gold has publicly backed Eddie Jones following the Japan head coach’s recent suspension by the Japan Rugby Football Union.

Jones was handed a six-week ban and salary reduction after allegedly verbally abusing a match official during Japan’s U23 tour of Australia. The experienced coach later apologised for the incident, but the controversy has continued to draw attention within international rugby circles.

Gold, currently serving as an assistant coach with Japan’s national rugby union team, admitted he was not present during the incident but firmly defended Jones’ character and coaching style.

“Look, I wasn’t in Australia; it was the U23 team, and Eddie was overseeing it. I honestly have no idea what it’s all about,” said Gold.

Jones, The Passionate Coach

The former South Africa national rugby union team and United States national rugby union team coach described Jones as an emotional and passionate leader who demands high standards from everyone around him.

“Eddie is an emotional guy; he wears his heart on his sleeve. He absolutely loves the team and expects everyone to put the same amount of time and attention into doing their job. I have never seen Eddie do something unreasonable, and I’m quite sure he wasn’t unreasonable in this case.” Gold explained.

Upward Trajectory For Japanese Rugby

Gold, who has spent over a year working in Japan, spoke glowingly about the environment under Jones and the direction Japanese rugby is heading.

“It’s been amazing, and I’m absolutely loving it. It’s a great environment working under Eddie. The players are driven and want to improve. The game in Japan is definitely on the rise. It is a challenge to not have the same resources that the top teams in the world have, but thoroughly enjoying it,” he said.

The veteran coach also praised Jones’ rugby intellect, comparing him to double World Cup-winning Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus.

“Eddie is an incredible coach. He inspires all of us to get better and constantly pushes boundaries to find new and creative ideas. He and Rassie are very similar individuals. They both have an unbelievable eye for the game.”

Japan League One vs the Premiership in 2000s

Beyond the controversy surrounding Jones, Gold highlighted the rapid growth of Japan Rugby League One, which continues to attract elite international talent. The league currently features stars such as Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Sam Cane, and Ardie Savea.

Gold compared the rise of Japanese rugby to the English Premiership boom of the early 2000s, when international stars elevated the competition to a new level.

“It reminds me of what the Premiership in England was like in the early 2000s. The international players add huge value. Our players are testing themselves every week against world-class opposition.” Gold said. 

He pointed specifically to the challenge of competing against players like Malcolm Marx as evidence of the league’s growing standard.

“Having to scrum against Malcolm Marx, clean him out and tackle him is not easy,” Gold added.

“But that’s the level the league is at right now.”