Did I have an interesting lunchtime chat today.

I live in the Midlands and was having a pint after watching my lad play RU.

Into the club comes a bloke who is on the Management at Northampton RU. We started talking about Saracens and their big clear out of players. Without him knowing I was a Wigan RL Fan, he came out with...

1) Faz will be relased from his contract at Sarries, and offered a coaching job (already reported I know).
2) Eddie Jones coming to Wigan is a done deal (again, already rumoured, but interesting all the same)
3) He will be bringing, or will be joined by Alex Sanderson - who is a RU forwards coach.

Apparently all this came out when they heard about the big clear-out at Sarries - they called in and asked about player availability and were told the above.

I guess this is not new - but the Eddie Jones rumour won't go away.

Any thoughts?

I'm sure this happened exactly as you say, but whether this guy actually knows anything is open to question.

I still find it hard to believe that Jones would get any position at Wigan other than some form of consultancy job. He couldn't take over as head coach, and would hardly be likely to accept an assistant role.

Did you mean Faz would be a coach at Sarries or Wigan?
Interesting he was at the Wigan game on Sat rather than the rah rah international.

I presume you mean a coaching job at Sarries not Wigan?



Not sure what either would bring to the club particularly Sanderson who would be bored to tears I suspect. The forwards have a vastly different role in RU as I am sure you know and I am not clear what skills an RU forward coach would see as transferable to RL.

As to Jones I am dubious about this as well. I do think we need to replace Lydon as I think we need someone to oversee the player development side of the club right from junior level and into the 1st team and I don't think this is Nobbies job nor one a 1st team coach should take on anyway as they have enough on their plate.

However I don't see why Jones is qualified to do this. Sure it will get publicity but who cares about that if it doesn't work which I think would be a risk.

Dave

maybe Jones will be coming in for the remainder of the season as a director of rugby or something and will end up taking over from Noble next term after finding his feet in league, coaching is coaching just the rules are different

The only scenario that would benefit Wigan out of this would be if Jones came as Director of Rugby and Faz as Noble's assistant.
Sanderson as forwards coach? Surely not!
If we want a forwards coach then Karl Harrison is available. Not a head coach IMO but can teach some of our younger forwards a thing or two.

got told by a player yesterday (with a smile on his face) that faz maybe getting involved in the coaching at quins

and the tactics, and the conditioning requirements.

IL being "prudent" with his spending should hopefully block the Jones deal if nothing else.

It would be a crazy decision.

Well he did sit in the home section rather than with the Wigan supporters???

Anyone from Wigan is bound to want to watch rugby league.

He was sounded out about the coaches job at Quins with Edwards when Tony Rae left the post.

He, Edwards and Offiah are regularly seen at the Stoop.

Possibly something to do with them living in London.

For what it's worth, Faz and Edwards are regularly seen at Wigan as well.

Why?

Well Noble wanted some union signings didn't he

Faz and Edwards live in the london area and Offiah is an agent some of the quins players so is seen at reserves games too. Doesnt mean they are next in line for a job. They just love watching the game like we do...

Now that is far too sensible a post to be on here! Recant immediately!

You'll be saying next that 2+2 really doesn't make 5

Really?

Lets start with the fact he is an RU coach.

Well Edwards was a Rugby League player and is now Rugby Union coach. Change can happen.

But Edwards wasn't new to Rugby Union. He'd played it at a reasonably high level in his youth.

Besides, I don't think that, just because one man has made the switch successfully, others will do the same. Look at the players who've failed to cut it when they've switched codes. It's happened both ways, and it's happened a lot. Probably more have failed than have succeeded.

Don't get me wrong. I'd be interested to see Eddie Jones involved with Wigan at some level, but I don't think he could possibly be appointed head coach straight away.

I thought Eddie Jones had been a Rugby League coach in the distant past.
Can't see him being head coach after so long out of the game.
Same as before, Director of Rugby, Noble head coach and Faz as his assistant

Eddie Jones is a class operator in RU with a solid CV. How that would work in RL with Noble as well, I can't see it.

These situations where you bring in a "Director of Rugby" or something similar always seem to end in tears in RL, RU and football more often than not.

As for Faz, it goes without saying that I along with most people on here would love to see him back at Wigan in some capacity. His lad's doing well for Sarries and Faz is respected in RU for his leadership skills despite not quite having done it playing wise.

Eddie Jones has far more exposure to League than Edwards did to Union. Jones was the chief point of contact for the ARU when they were targeting NRL players, he is widley credited with stealing ideas from League and incorporating them in union, i think he may even have his coaching badges from Australia, he is a massive fan and student of the game.

That being said could he or should he come to the biggest league club in the world and walk into the head coach position, never. The only possible chance is if he were to bring in a strong experienced and well respected number 2, which i where i guess the Faz links comes.

That's something I didn't know, and would definitely put a different complexion on things.

Maybe Eddie Jones is going to come in and work along side IL? Remember last year IL was publicly critised by some players for not being full time at Wigan so if IL needs to look after his other interests then Jones could keep his eye on Wigan so to speak.