Six Nations ‘not acceptable’ and Eddie Jones is not ‘bulletproof’, says RFU chief

The Rugby Football Union chief executive, Bill Sweeney, has insisted Eddie Jones is not “bulletproof” and belatedly admitted England’s Six Nations performance was not acceptable. Jones has been backed to continue in the role for now but Sweeney insisted his position would be kept under constant review.

Sweeney went on to concede that the union was wrong not to acknowledge in its statement the day after England lost to France that another campaign with two wins and three defeats was disappointing and that supporters had a right to feel aggrieved.

Sweeney also revealed he has had a conversation with Jones, spelling out that another substandard campaign was “not acceptable”. He said: “No one is bulletproof. No one is indispensable. I’m not indispensable. Anyone can go at any particular time but that happens when there is a loss of confidence.

“People stay in their role because there is a belief that you are still heading in the right direction, even when, sometimes, the results might not back that up. You make a call, you make a judgment; are we heading in the right direction? Of course he’s not bulletproof. He knows that himself. We haven’t performed well in the last two Six Nations. To have a conversation with him saying ‘that’s not acceptable’ – of course that happens.”

On Sunday the RFU released a statement claiming that “solid progress” had been made despite a campaign with just eight tries scored and wins over only Italy and Wales. The statement acknowledged no disappointment nor did it include an apology to supporters but on Thursday Sweeney said: “The feelings were genuine, really disappointed, massively frustrated. Should we have said that more up front? Yes, probably, recognising fans’ disappointment as well, so I