Eddie Jones, the former England boss, has been hit with a six‑week suspension and a fine after the Japanese Rugby Football Union censored him for abusing match officials during an under‑23 tour of Australia. The 66‑year‑old accepted the punishment, saying he deeply regretted the remarks that caused discomfort to officials and others in the international arena and the sport's reputation today.

Under the JRFU contract, Jones faces a salary cut and is barred from coaching the Brave Blossoms through their next four fixtures, including the opener against Italy on July 4, a clash with a Hong Kong China Select side, and a warm‑up against the Maori All Blacks. Japan’s under‑23 squad finished the Australian tour with three wins, beating Randwick 38‑21 in Sydney.

Jones, who oversaw the Wallabies' exit from the 2023 Rugby World Cup and faced fan backlash after a 2022 win over Australia, now must rebuild trust with Japanese rugby. The incident underscores the pressure on high‑profile coaches to maintain professionalism, while Japan’s coaching vacancy could affect their Nations Championship campaign. The federation’s decisive action signals zero tolerance for misconduct today.