Defence coach Jones' exit 'deeply disappointing' - RFU chief

Felix Jones' resignation arsenic England defence coach aft only 7 months is "deeply disappointing", Rugby Football Union main executive Bill Sweeney said arsenic he confirmed nan Irishman's departure.

Jones, 37, joined nan set-up aft securing a 2nd successive Rugby World Cup pinch South Africa past autumn.

He overhauled England's defence, introducing a Springbok-style blitz approach.

England conceded 13 tries successful nan 2024 Six Nations, compared to 18 successful nan aforesaid tourney a twelvemonth earlier.

Sweeney said nan RFU are looking to move connected aft Jones' resignation "came retired of nan blue".

"Felix is connected a 12-month statement truthful from nan infinitesimal he announced his resignation he is committed to america for 12 months," Sweeney told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"We are successful chat astir what we do successful that modulation period.

"It has been profoundly disappointing and I won't hit immoderate bones astir that. You saw pinch nan performances successful New Zealand and astatine nan extremity of nan Six Nations awesome momentum and bully energy.

"You person a awesome squad of players now pinch a blend of acquisition and young players. The temper successful nan campy is awesome and it’s a nosy situation to beryllium in.

"It was wholly unexpected but these things hap successful athletics and we will move connected and make nan basal changes to rectify it."

Jones' exit adds to nan vacancies among caput coach Steve Borthwick's backroom unit pinch caput of spot and conditioning Aled Walters and section workfellow Tom Tombleson besides leaving this summer.

Doubts stay complete Kevin Sinfield's future. The rugby convention awesome was initially recruited connected a five-year statement arsenic defence coach aft moving pinch Borthwick astatine Leicester Tigers.

However nan 43-year-old shifted into a skills domiciled little than a twelvemonth later and had primitively planned to measurement down this summer, pinch Borthwick having antecedently suggested he whitethorn still person a domiciled to play successful a part-time capacity.

Sweeney says it is excessively "early" to make immoderate announcements.

"Some of nan decisions that person to beryllium taken whitethorn return a spot of time," he added.

"People are nether statement but we are moving really difficult connected it and we person had to accelerate our reasoning connected that."

Northampton's defence coach Lee Radford and erstwhile Bristol flanker Joe El-Abd, who is caput coach of French broadside Oyonnax, are reportedly among nan names nether consideration.