Japan suspends Australian rugby coach Jones for insulting officials | Rugby news

Eddie Jones has been banned for four matches for ‘disrespect’ towards match officials during the tour of Australia, the Japan Rugby Football Union has announced.

Japan has suspended rugby coach Eddie Jones for four games and cut his pay over “derogatory comments made by officials” during the Australian tour.

The Japan Rugby Football Union (JRFU) said on Wednesday that the 66-year-old Australian broke their rules and guidelines during the Japan Under-23 team’s tour of Australia from April 1 to 15.

“This relates to the abuse of local match officials,” the JRFU said in a statement.

They said that Jones “approved this decision”.

“I accept the JRFU’s sanction in relation to the Japan U23 team’s tour of Australia,” Jones said in a statement.

“Some of the inappropriate words I have spoken have offended the local sports authorities and other parties.

“I want to apologize from the bottom of my heart to anyone involved.

Jones will miss Japan’s Champions League opener against Italy in Tokyo on July 4 and will not be allowed to take part in the two matches involving the Japanese national team against Hong Kong on May 22 and 29.

He has also been banned for the Japan XV’s match against the Maori All Blacks on June 27 in Nagoya and the Japan Nations Championship opener against Italy.

He is suspended for six weeks between April 24 and June 5.