Jones named new Japan rugby coach

The Japan Rugby Football Union on Monday announced the appointments of Eddie Jones as head coach of the national team and Masahiro Kunda as assistant coach.

Jones took his native Australia to the final of the 2003 World Cup against England and was also on board as technical advisor for South Africa's World Cup-winning campaign four years later.

"I'm very excited and honored to have the job as head coach of Japan," said the 51-year-old boss of Suntory Sungoliath from the Japanese Top League.

"The first thing we're going to have to do is to win. I want Japan to win and be in the top 10 in the world. We need to develop a solid play that suits Japanese players."

Japan, currently 15th in the world rankings, has set two main goals: to break into the top 10 in the world toward the 2015 World Cup in England and to reach the knockout stage of the 2019 tournament as hosts.

"We've got a very big challenge ahead us," Jones said.

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