Japan boss Eddie Jones has rued World Rugby’s decision not to host a coaches conference this year after the November internationals.

Previously, elite coaches have congregated after the southern hemisphere nations’ tour of the north to discuss the shape of the global game.

Jones, who has coached at the highest level since 2012 with Japan, Australia and England, was clearly a fan of these gatherings as the meetings not only gave the head honchos the chance to exchange ideas and views on the game but to simply catch up with colleagues.

An example of these kinds of meetings was World Rugby’s Shape of the Game conference that involved various stakeholders other than the coaches, like match officials and union representatives. That eventually led to ‘fan-focused’ law trials.

Coaches meeting cancelled

Speaking ahead of Japan’s clash with South Africa at Wembley Stadium, Jones said that he hoped to meet with Springboks boss Rassie Erasmus, with the latter usually gifting him with a bottle of wine.

However, the experienced coach said that it was ultimately not possible because of the tight schedule of the two teams this November.

“No, we didn’t catch up [after the game], it was all a bit of a rush now with the arrangements, we were out on the road straight away,” Jones said on the Rugby Unity podcast.

“But I had a quick chat with him before the game; he was in good spirits, and that’s expected given the team he has.”

Eddie Jones: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu gives Springboks a ‘different threat’ but Rassie Erasmus is not ‘forgetting’ fortunate position

Asked by the show host, David Pembroke, if he and Erasmus would catch up at a later date, Jones revealed that the usual coaches meeting had been cancelled.

“Probably not, mate. We get on well when we see each other, but we wouldn’t go out of our way to make a call,” he said.

“One of the nice things that used to happen in Test rugby was at the end of November, they’d have a coaches conference.

“We’d discuss the game, you’d have two days, and that’d be a good opportunity to catch up with people, but they’ve cancelled all that, World Rugby, in their wisdom.”

Pembroke replied: “That’s a pity. That would seem to be a very good use of some investment to bring the coaches together, not only to draw some of their wisdom but also to enable them to build some camaraderie, that spirit which is part of rugby and that sense of friendship.”

READ MORE: Eddie Jones: ‘Two areas where I noticed the Springboks were significantly different’