‘I’ve had enough’: Eddie Jones calls for global summit on future of rugby union

Eddie Jones has called for World Rugby to convene an urgent summit of leading players, coaches and referees to discuss how to enhance international rugby union as a spectacle. Jones says he has “had enough” of the game’s increasingly stop-start nature and that top-level talks need to be convened before this autumn’s Tests in Europe.

England’s head coach, who has also cast doubt over the merit of the proposed “Nations League” concept that is poised to replace traditional tours, is concerned the essence of rugby is being lost in the welter of yellow and red cards, overzealous officiating, TMO referrals and set-piece delays that routinely interrupt the flow of the modern game.

The issues have been further highlighted in Australia by Wednesday’s classic, fast-paced State of Origin rugby league decider, which contrasted sharply with, for example, last Saturday’s New Zealand v Ireland game in Dunedin. There were so many stoppages, sanctions and arcane law interpretations that Jones and many others felt it was a worrying advertisement for the sport.

“I don’t want to see a New Zealand-Ireland game like that ever again,” said Jones. “Otherwise imagine at the next World Cup … you play a quarter-final, you get a red card and two yellows, you’re down to 12 men and it’s just ridiculous. The referees are being put under pressure here. We can’t blame them.

“I’ve been speaking to a few ex-coaches. The referees, coaches and players need to get together and say ‘This is the game we want. This is the game people want to see.’ I’m certainly going to be pushing for it because I’ve had enough.”

Jones, who has made three starting changes to his side for Saturday’s series decider against the Wallabies, is adamant the sport’s governing body