The departure of Felix Jones from the England coaching has left many in the country's rugby setup scrambling - and scratching their heads.
Former Munster and Ireland man Jones landed on the England coaching team earlier this year, having brought the curtain down on his immensely successful stint as an assistant coach with South Africa.
Given that Jones arrived in England with two World Cups under his belt as a coach, hopes were high that he could elevate the level of Steve Borthwick's team.
The early signs were positive during the Six Nations, with Jones earning much credit for England's dramatic win over his native Ireland in March.
However, despite steady signs of improvements with Jones on the team, the Irishman unexpectedly stepped aside from his role last month. The announcement was completely out of the blue, with the initial reports suggesting that Jones had become disgruntled with an "unstable working environment."
Last week, several England players expressed their surprise at the decision, and now the chief of the Rugby Football Union has expressed his frustration at the bombshell departure of one of the world's most highly rated coaches.
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RFU chief shocked by Felix Jones' England departure
9 March 2024; Peter O'Mahony of Ireland, right, and England defence coach Felix Jones after the Guinness Six Nations Rugby Championship match between England and Ireland at Twickenham Stadium in London, England. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile
Speaking to BBC Radio Five Live this week, the chief executive of the Rugby Football Union, Bill Sweeney, sat that he was "deeply disappointed" to see Felix Jones exit the England set-up.
There was more than a hint of frustration in Sweeney's comments, showing that the entire RFU were clearly taken aback by Jones' decision to step away.
Felix is on a 12-month contract so from the moment he announced his resignation he is committed to us for 12 months. We are in discussion about what we do in that transition period.
It has been deeply disappointing and I won't beat any bones about that. You saw with the performances in New Zealand and at the end of the Six Nations great momentum and good energy.
You have a great squad of players now with a blend of experience and young players. The mood in the camp is great and it’s a fun environment to be in.
It was totally unexpected but these things happen in sport and we will move on and make the necessary changes to rectify it.
It is unclear what the next step will be for Felix Jones.
Given the excellent work he has done in South Africa and the promising early signs with England, he will likely be in hot demand among rugby's superpowers.
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