Eddie Jones Commits To Developing Youth In New Era of Brave Blossoms at PNC 2024

JRFU Brave Blossoms Head Coach Eddie Jones and captain for the PNC (Pacific Nations Cup) 2024, Harumichi Tatekawa, addressed the media ahead of the competition from their training camp, fielding questions mainly from Japanese media and ourselves at Rugby Asia 247.

The main message was that they have identified the need to develop the young players and that the core leadership are being relied on to take the men’s international XV team to the next phase of its development but they are excited for the challenge of the PNC 2024.

Feature Photo Credit: JRFU – Eddie Jones

Blending Leadership and Youth – Brave Blossoms Ready for PNC 2024

Both Jones and Tatekawa discussed the importance of developing young players and coaches in Japan Rugby with a focus on building their experience which would result in better calmness to control and close out games. There was also no shortage of desire and there is excitement about playing in the Pacific Nations Cup 2024.

Jones said, “It’s a good competition to be involved in. Fiji did very well at the Rugby World Cup 2023. Samoa had some really good moments at the World Cup, and Tonga is always a tough team. We have Canada and USA in our pool and it will be a challenge playing Canada away from home first. We are looking forward to playing in the PNC.”

Eddie Jones was also adamant about developing homegrown Japanese players but obviously the pathways to any eligible player remain open.

The Australian said, “I’m committed to growing young Japanese players. Of course, we will select good foreign players who are eligible, but my focus is not on those players. It’s on growing young Japanese players. We’re shown that by the players we’ve picked already in the Summer and certainly in the PNC, we’ve got the guys.”

He gave one example of how 34-year-old captain “Haru” as Jones refers to him, had a hand injury at the end of the recent JRLO season but he took it upon himself to use the time to improve his conditioning and come back stronger – Jones emphasised that is the desire and passion that he is looking for.

Harumichi Tatekawa was selected as the Brave Blossoms captain for the PNC 2024 matches in North America as Eddie Jones has known him for a number of years, praises his abilities and can completely trust him. “He’s got a nice, strong way with the players, respectful but demanding, And he sets a good example,” added Jones.

The centre and flyhalf was named the Japan Rugby League One MVP of the season 2022-2023 after captaining Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay to the Japanese title. The player made his test debut more than a decade ago when he played Kazakhstan in 2012, and he is one of a few players Eddie Jones identified as captain material when he took the head coach role, with stalwart Michael Leitch the other.

“The way we’ve got the team structured at the moment, we’ve got a group of leaders who look after the team environment, look after the behaviour and off the field, and then we’ve got another group of players who are the game leaders, they’re involved in driving the tactical side of the game. And then we’ve got a group of players who have got experience, who are helping guide the younger players,” explained Eddie Jones.

Areas Marked For Improvement – Lessons Learned In 2024 Matches

Eddie Jones pointed out areas for improvement in the squad were improving the consistency of the set piece, and improving the handling, saying the team and coaches had been working extremely hard on those in the camp.

“What we probably need to really work on, and will have experience in the PNC, is really winning the critical moments. One may be choosing the right play in the critical moment, or utilising a penalty to the maximum in those critical moments, but this only comes from experience.  We want to win in the PNC, but I think what we need to do in the PNC to get the result is really believe in what we do, and commit to what we do,” emphasised Jones.

Photo Credit: JRFU – Harumichi Tatekawa – Brave Blossoms Captain PNC 2024

Haru added when asked about his leadership role in this, “Of course, it’s really important that I keep the continuous chat going with all the other leaders involved – from both the forward pack and backs so that we always share the team objective as a whole and keep driving that.”

The Japanese are under no illusion that each team will put their best foot forward in the PNC, and that there will be tough games.

Rugby Asia 247 Exclusives – Eddie Jones

Pathway Development In Japan

Rugby Asia 247 asked Jones about his thoughts on the younger playing talent pool and the pathway development and how there are challenges unique to Japan.

“We have a unique system in Japan where all our players, virtually all of our players, 99.9% of our players go to university. University rugby is not an elite competition here, so we don’t have any of our young players in elite development programs, and you don’t need to be Einstein to work out that’s a disadvantage,” commented the Brave Blossoms Head Coach.

“So we’re looking at ways now of how we can make that into an advantage for us, and we’ve started things like Japan Talent Squad where we brought young players in. We’d like to extend that next year to be more of a match program. But we’ve got a lot of work to do in that area, a LOT of work to do.”

How Has The Coaching Team Eddie Jones Assembled Getting On?

Among the wider Brave Blossoms coaching squad, Jones has brought in World Cup winners like Owen Franks and Victor Matfield, but also a number of talented Japanese coaches.

“That’s a good question. I have been really impressed. Neal Hatley (Coaching Coordinator) is an experienced World Cup coach having been at the World Cup with England, and with me in various roles and he leads the coaching team. Then Owen Franks (Assistant Coach), literally had his last ice bath with the Crusaders and started coaching. The impact he’s had already on the young front rows has been absolutely massive.

We’ve got another young coach in Dan Bowden as an assistant Coaches in attack, who’s full of energy, full of ideas, and David Kidwell completes the coaching staff, having been through a very successful campaign with Argentina at the Rugby World Cup in 2023 (as defensive coach).

So it’s a nice balance between experience and youth. We’re still finding out about each other, but certainly, I think the potential is there to be a really good coaching staff.”

We also asked the Japanese captain about what qualities he thinks are important as a leader and on Japanese rugby development over the last decade.

“In Japan, we have obviously younger players and players from abroad, and Japanese players, it’s unique. I would like, as a leader, to bridge things so that there’s no gap between any other players. And I think the only way that’s really going to happen is if we unite with each other as one Japan squad. As for the history over the decade, we had a really good World Cup in 2015 and 2019, and perhaps not so as not so well in 2023.” said Brave Blossoms captain Harumichi Tatekawa.

He added, “I do believe that we have a really good foundation of rugby in place. It’s really important we get the rugby momentum back in the country. And I think it’s a really important time of rebuilding. I don’t try to look too far forward really but try to focus on the campaign one at a time, and we will get there.”

Photo Credit: JRFU – Brave Blossoms vs Italy 2024

Brave Blossoms – 2024 Pacific Nations Cup Match Schedule – North America

• Sunday, 25 August – Pool B Match Canada vs Japan @ BC Place Stadium, Vancouver
• Saturday, 7 September -Pool B Match Japan vs USA @ Kumagaya Rugby Stadium, Saitama

How To Watch The PNC 2024

The Pacific Nations Cup 2024 will be available to watch everywhere either through a local broadcast partner or on RugbyPass TV.

Japanese Rugby News 2024

• Brave Blossoms Squad Selected For 2024 Pacific Nations Cup Training Camp.
• Fumi Tanaka – Japanese Coaching Aspirations & His Views On The Development of Japanese Rugby.
• Japan Sakura XV vs USA 1st Test Preview – Taiyo Seimei Japan Rugby Challenge Series 2024.
• WXV 2024 Details Confirmed – WXV 3 Heads Back To Dubai.