Japan needs a coach with 'new ideas'

This comes after he announced his resignation from coaching the Japanese national team after the World Cup – which gets underway in England next month.

The 55-year-old Australian, who has been the Brave Blossoms' coach since 2012, will step down on November 1.

His contract was due to expire this year.

"It would have been easy for me to continue for four years if they really wanted me to," Jones told a press briefing in Tokyo ahead of a match with Uruguay on Saturday.

Jones said he had a "fantastic" tenure in Japan, but added that the side needs "new ideas and new energy".

"I'm sure they [Japan Rugby Football Union] will find an excellent coach to do that," he added.

Team captain Michael Leitch, said that the team was "grateful" to Jones for making the Japanese team stronger.  

A new coach will be chosen after the World Cup, which concludes on Ocktober 31.

On Tuesday Jones said in a statement that he "will be taking on a different challenge" as he announced his resignation.

Last week reports said he had agreed a two-year deal starting in 2016 with South Africa's Stormers, and that the coach had acknowledged talks with the team.

Jones told Kyodo News agency this week in southern Japan, where the team was in training camp, that he had announced his resignation to end rumours and speculation about his future.

Jones took over from All Black legend John Kirwan in April 2012. He earlier guided Australia to the 2003 World Cup final, which they lost to England.

Jones, who is half-Japanese, also served as adviser to South Africa when they won the World Cup in 2007.

Jones suffered a stroke while he was Japan's coach in 2013, but he made a full recovery and has overseen a drastic improvement in the team's fortunes.

Last year the they broke into the world's top 10 after 10 straight wins, culminating in a victory over Six Nations side Italy.

At the World Cup in England, Japan will be aiming to improve a poor record at the tournament where their only win so far was against Zimbabwe in 1991.

Source: Agence France-Presse