Eddie Jones has started rebuilding his coaching team with the appointment of the former rugby league international Martin Gleeson as his new attack coach.
Gleeson, 41, had filled the same role at Wasps and joins Jones’s coaching set-up in a position last held permanently by Simon Amor, who left his job in May after England’s fifth-placed finish in the Six Nations.
Jason Ryles left as skills coach at the same time and when John Mitchell, the defence coach, recently opted to depart for Wasps, Jones was left with a depleted management team. Gleeson joins Matt Proudfoot, the forwards coach, as Jones looks to assemble a group that can take England to the 2023 World Cup.
After a playing career in which he appeared as a centre for a number of leading clubs, including Warrington Wolves and Wigan Warriors, Gleeson moved into coaching with Salford Red Devils, then crossed codes to join Wasps in 2019. He will take charge of an England attack that has misfired badly in recent times.
Although coaches from rugby league have had a huge influence on defence in rugby league, through the likes of Mike Ford, Andy Farrell and Shaun Edwards, Jones has spoken about how much the 15-man game can learn from the attacking shapes of rugby league.
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“We are building a coaching team to win the 2023 World Cup, we have five campaigns to go before then so every appointment from is very important,” Jones said. “We’re starting with Martin. He’s a bright young rugby coach with experience at the highest level in league so he will add significant power to the team.”