Eddie Jones was forced to apologise for controversial comments about Wales and Ireland, with the remarks resurfacing ahead of Japan’s clash with Wales this weekend.<\/p>\n
The Japan head coach will take his side to the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on Saturday for their opening autumn Nations Championship fixture.<\/p>\n
Both nations will view the encounter as a potential victory, with Wales preparing to face the All Blacks and Australia in their next two matches. Japan, meanwhile, will travel to England and Scotland.<\/p>\n
Jones is one of rugby’s most experienced coaches, having enjoyed success across several international teams.<\/p>\n
He began his coaching career at Randwick before guiding the ACT Brumbies to their first Super Rugby title in 2001.<\/p>\n
The Australian subsequently led his country to the 2003 Rugby World Cup final before helping South Africa win the 2007 tournament as an advisor.<\/p>\n
Jones later enjoyed a successful spell with Japan, most notably overseeing their famous 2015 Rugby World Cup victory over South Africa.<\/p>\n
He then took charge of England, winning consecutive Six Nations titles and reaching the 2019 Rugby World Cup final.<\/p>\n
After returning to Australia in 2023, Jones rejoined Japan in 2024.<\/p>\n
Back in 2018, Jones “apologised unreservedly” for offensive comments he had made about Wales and Ireland<\/a>.<\/p>\n The remarks were made during a sponsors’ talk in July 2017, when the Australian described Wales as a “s**t little place” and expressed his frustration following a defeat to the “scummy Irish”.<\/p>\n Jones, then 58, said he was “very sorry for any offence caused” before adding: “No excuses. I shouldn’t have said what I did.”<\/p>\n He also revisited Ireland’s 13-9 victory over England during the 2017 Six Nations, making it clear that the defeat had continued to frustrate him.<\/p>\n “We’ve played 23 Tests, we’ve only lost one Test to the scummy Irish.<\/p>\n “I am still dirty about that game. We’ll get that back, we’ll get that back don’t worry. We’ve got them next year at home, we’ll get them back.”<\/p>\n The footage was uploaded to YouTube by Japanese company Fuso <\/a>in July 2017, but only attracted wider public attention a year later.<\/p>\n During the talk, Jones discussed Japan Under-20s’ 125-0 defeat to Wales shortly after his appointment in 2012.<\/p>\n He compared the two countries’ populations while discussing their respective rugby histories, using Wales as an example.<\/p>\n “Who knows Wales? Are there any Welsh people here? So it’s this little s**t place that has got three million people. Three million!” he said.<\/p>\n