Borthwick waxes lyrical on Felix Jones as Irishman starts England chapter

Felix Jones was only confirmed as defence coach with Steve Borthwick’s England team on January 4th and yet new haunts have clearly made no dent in old habits.

EXCITING NEW ADDITIONS: Pictured is England Rugby Head Coach, Steve Borthwick at the launch of the 2024 Guinness Men’s Six Nations Championship at the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin. Pic:©INPHO/Ben Brady

Felix Jones has spent most of his coaching work in the shadows. Happily so. Never one to embrace the media duties that litter the game, it has fallen to his co-workers, bosses and players to speak for his impact during a four-year stint with the Springboks.

Those asked to delve into his work with the back-to-back world champions invariably leaned towards some variation on a familiar joke about the need to avoid bumping into the Irishman in the team hotel, especially if he was in the vicinity of a laptop.