Felix Jones rejoins Springbok coaching ticket 

BACK WITH THE BOKS: Felix Jones has rejoined the Springbok coaching ticket. Pic: Mike Egerton/PA Wire

Double Rugby World Cup-winning coach Felix Jones will reunite with Springbok boss Rassie Erasmus and his coaching team in an assistant coach position.

Former Munster man Jones will join fellow former coaches of the province, Erasmus and Jerry Flannery in the Springbok coaching ticket from 1 March 2025, following a short stint with England.

Jones had been linked to the Munster head coach job following the departure of Graham Rowntree, but the news on Wednesday night of the appointment of Chiefs boss Clayton McMillan to that role ended that speculation.

Erasmus unveiled his management team on Thursday, with Jones - a Munster coach from 2016 to 2019 - who was a member of the team’s triumphant 2019 and 2023 RWC campaigns - the statement recruit.

Jones' appointments will be for the next cycle concluding with the Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia.

The 37-year-old made the decision to move to England after the 2023 World Cup to be closer to his family, but stepped down from his role as defence coach under Steve Borthwick in December, having reportedly been "unhappy with an unstable working environment" after the tour to New Zealand.

“We are delighted to welcome Felix back into the Springbok team and we are excited to see him pick up where he left off in 2023,” said Erasmus.

“He was a vital cog in the coaching team from 2019 to 2023, and his experience, professionalism, and excellent work ethic will make him a great addition to the fantastic coaching team we built from the beginning of 2024.

“Felix worked very closely with most of our coaches in the past, and I have no doubt he’ll work equally closely with Jerry (Flannery) and Tony (Brown), who joined us last season.

“After spending some time in England, his experience of working in the UK and studying the opposition teams in the Six Nations and other international tournaments will add immense value in assisting us to adapt and improve as we cast an eye on a tough international season ahead.

“As a team we are well aware that we need to keep improving and growing if we want to remain one of the best teams in the world and to give ourselves the best possible chance to defend our World Cup title in Australia in 2027, and Felix, like all the other coaching and support staff, will play a key role in guiding us to do so.”

South Africa Rugby CEO Rian Oberholzer shared in the excitement in welcoming Jones, as well a physio Lance Lemmetjies, and dietician Robyn Moore to the Springbok set-up.

“We all know the value that Felix added to the team during his time with the Springboks and we are confident his presence will strengthen the coaching group even further,” said Oberholzer.

“The management team behind the scenes plays an equally important role in ensuring that the team functions optimally from a player welfare and operational perspective so that the players have everything they need to perform to the best of their ability on the team, so it’s fantastic that Lance and Robyn are also on board to impart their knowledge and expertise.

“We believe these additions to the team will benefit Rassie and his support staff immensely.”