Eddie Jones has stressed his desire to be coaching at the next Rugby World Cup and confirmed his interest in the vacant positions with England and Japan.
The former coach of Australia is the firm favourite to replace John Kirwan in Japan, the country of his mother's birth, but his record of guiding the Wallabies to the final in 2003 and his part in South Africa's victory in 2007 also makes him an obvious candidate to succeed Martin Johnson in the England job.
Jones, 51, said he is "still waiting to see" the next move in the recruitment process by the Japanese Rugby Union and is excited about the possibility of leading Japan as the hosts of the 2019 World Cup.
But he also recognises what a tantalising prospect it would be to spearhead England's bid as the host nation in 2015.
The Australian said he would have no qualms about accepting the England job, despite the fact it was Sir Clive Woodward's team who beat his Australia side in a thrilling 2003 final.
"You always want to coach your own country, and I did that, but it's normally that your country divorces you - not you divorcing them," Jones said. "I'd live to coach at the next World Cup."
Jones, whose daughter is studying in England, has not been approached by the English Rugby Football Union (RFU) and is waiting to see if they decide they want to appoint their first foreign coach or opt for an Englishman.
"If they go for an Englishmen then I think they [the RFU] will advertise," Jones said. "If they go for the best candidate then they will headhunt, and then I'd like to think I'm in a position to be headhunted.
"It's a massive opportunity."
Jim Mallinder, Graham Henry and Dean Ryan have been linked with the job, but Nick Mallett and Woodward have ruled themselves out of the running.
"To be very clear, I've got no wish to coach England again," Woodward, who is currently performance director at the British Olympic Association, said this week.
England crashed out amid much acrimony of last month's World Cup at the quarter-final stage, and Jones said they have underperformed since Jonny Wilkinson broke the hearts of his Australia side with a drop goal in 2003.
"They got to the final in 2007 but never played well," Jones said. "They have seriously underachieved since 2003. They have got an outstanding domestic league, huge resources, a good player pool and some good youngsters, but they have not been cohesive in the way they have wanted to play and got [their] selections wrong.
"They have got a good scrum and a good line out, but they have not built on that. They've not played well for some time now and only won one Six Nations. They should consistantly be a top four-side in the world, as [Sir] Clive Woodward made them."
Johnson was Woodward's inspirational captain in 2003 but he failed to transfer his success on the field to coaching on the training paddock.
Jones expressed sympathy for Johnson, who resigned as team manager this week.
"Team manager was the right role for him, but he then turned into the head coach with no coaching experience at all. If he had an experienced head coach with him it may have been different. I remember when I first coached in the Super 12, I was way out of my depth, and I had coaching experience before that. I just hope he's [Johnson] not lost to rugby, as he has so much to offer the game."
Jones has been in the international coaching wilderness since a consultancy role with the Springboks in 2007. He has since coached at Saracens, the English side, and worked as an adviser to the Suntory Sungoliath team [in the Japanese rugby union], but is now itching to return to top-level rugby and should be top of the list to replace Kirwan.
"Coaching Japan would be an exciting challenge," Jones said. "They are ranked 15th in the world, but with the strong financial support they have and the improving domestic league, they are capable of being a top-10 side.
"I'm still waiting to see what they [the Japense Rugby Football Union] do. It's a massive opportunity to coach Japan at the World Cup in 2019. I'd like to be part of that."
kaffleck@thenational.ae
UAE squad
Rohan Mustafa (captain), Ashfaq Ahmed, Ghulam Shabber, Rameez Shahzad, Mohammed Boota, Mohammed Usman, Adnan Mufti, Shaiman Anwar, Ahmed Raza, Imran Haider, Qadeer Ahmed, Mohammed Naveed, Amir Hayat, Zahoor Khan
Getting there
The flights
Flydubai operates up to seven flights a week to Helsinki. Return fares to Helsinki from Dubai start from Dh1,545 in Economy and Dh7,560 in Business Class.
The stay
Golden Crown Igloos in Levi offer stays from Dh1,215 per person per night for a superior igloo; www.leviniglut.net
Panorama Hotel in Levi is conveniently located at the top of Levi fell, a short walk from the gondola. Stays start from Dh292 per night based on two people sharing; www. golevi.fi/en/accommodation/hotel-levi-panorama
Arctic Treehouse Hotel in Rovaniemi offers stays from Dh1,379 per night based on two people sharing; www.arctictreehousehotel.com
Europe’s rearming plan
- Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
- Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
- Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
- Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
- Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital
25-MAN SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho, Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Daniel Akpeyi
Defenders: Olaoluwa Aina, Abdullahi Shehu, Chidozie Awaziem, William Ekong, Leon Balogun, Kenneth Omeruo, Jamilu Collins, Semi Ajayi
Midfielders: John Obi Mikel, Wilfred Ndidi, Oghenekaro Etebo, John Ogu
Forwards: Ahmed Musa, Victor Osimhen, Moses Simon, Henry Onyekuru, Odion Ighalo, Alexander Iwobi, Samuel Kalu, Paul Onuachu, Kelechi Iheanacho, Samuel Chukwueze
On Standby: Theophilus Afelokhai, Bryan Idowu, Ikouwem Utin, Mikel Agu, Junior Ajayi, Valentine Ozornwafor
The Energy Research Centre
Founded 50 years ago as a nuclear research institute, scientists at the centre believed nuclear would be the “solution for everything”.
Although they still do, they discovered in 1955 that the Netherlands had a lot of natural gas. “We still had the idea that, by 2000, it would all be nuclear,” said Harm Jeeninga, director of business and programme development at the centre.
"In the 1990s, we found out about global warming so we focused on energy savings and tackling the greenhouse gas effect.”
The energy centre’s research focuses on biomass, energy efficiency, the environment, wind and solar, as well as energy engineering and socio-economic research.
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh132,000 (Countryman)
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Brief scores
Barcelona 2
Pique 36', Alena 87'
Villarreal 0
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
Company name: Farmin
Date started: March 2019
Founder: Dr Ali Al Hammadi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: AgriTech
Initial investment: None to date
Partners/Incubators: UAE Space Agency/Krypto Labs
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Revibe%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202022%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Hamza%20Iraqui%20and%20Abdessamad%20Ben%20Zakour%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20UAE%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Refurbished%20electronics%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunds%20raised%20so%20far%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2410m%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFlat6Labs%2C%20Resonance%20and%20various%20others%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Awar Qalb
Director: Jamal Salem
Starring: Abdulla Zaid, Joma Ali, Neven Madi and Khadija Sleiman
Two stars
Queen
Nicki Minaj
(Young Money/Cash Money)
MATCH INFO
Liverpool 2 (Van Dijk 18', 24')
Brighton 1 (Dunk 79')
Red card: Alisson (Liverpool)
AGL AWARDS
Golden Ball - best Emirati player: Khalfan Mubarak (Al Jazira)
Golden Ball - best foreign player: Igor Coronado (Sharjah)
Golden Glove - best goalkeeper: Adel Al Hosani (Sharjah)
Best Coach - the leader: Abdulaziz Al Anbari (Sharjah)
Fans' Player of the Year: Driss Fetouhi (Dibba)
Golden Boy - best young player: Ali Saleh (Al Wasl)
Best Fans of the Year: Sharjah
Goal of the Year: Michael Ortega (Baniyas)
