Six Nations 2018: Scottish Rugby Union blasts fans over abuse of Eddie Jones
THE SCOTTISH Rugby Union have condemned Scotland fans’ verbal abuse of England coach Eddie Jones as “appalling” and “disgusting”.
England coach Eddie Jones verbally abused by Scotland fans
And former Scotland wing Kenny Logan has admitted he was “embarrassed” by the treatment handed out to Jones, after a video emerged of the Australian being subjected to a volley of foul-mouthed abuse by ‘fans’ he had posed with for a photo.
The incident took place on Sunday as Jones, who was travelling alone, disembarked from the Edinburgh train at Manchester’s Oxford Road Station.
The footage shows the England coach posing for a snap with four men, one of whom was holding a can of beer, only for them to turn on him as he heads into a waiting car.
He is taunted about the Murrayfield defeat and called a “baldy ****” as the group break into a chant of “Scotland, Scotland”.
“Scottish Rugby is appalled by the verbal abuse suffered by Eddie Jones,” they said in a statement. “The disgusting behaviour of those involved does not represent the values of our sport or its fans.
“The dignity Eddie and the England team showed on Saturday is in stark contrast to this ugly incident.”
Jones has said that the incident has put him off travelling by public transport again.
Outside the Six Nations, Jones travels the length and breadth of the country to watch Premiership matches and meet with players and club directors of rugby. He generally travels by car, often with a driver supplied by the RFU.
The RFU will insist that if Jones does opt to take the train in future he is accompanied by security.
Scottish Rugby is appalled by the verbal abuse suffered by Eddie Jones
Logan also hit out at his fellow countrymen, saying: “I’m embarrassed by it because rugby fans don’t really do that. You have to respect what Eddie has done and you have to be humble in victory and defeat.
“Eddie sticks it out there – he’s quite brash with what he says – but it’s unacceptable for fans to slag someone off like that. Sadly, there are people like that out there.
“It’s just one of these sad situations where these fans have had a couple of beers, they’ve seen a famous face and they’ve had a go.
"I heard there were a lot of English fans giving him stick on the train as well,” said Logan.
“There’s a great upside to being well known but there’s also a downside.
“I had it after Scotland games sometimes when I hadn’t played well - you have to take it on the chin - but life is different now. Because of social media everyone has an opinion and they feel they can say it out loud too.”
Rassie Erasmus was confirmed as South Africa’s new rugby coach on Thursday, replacing Allister Coetzee as the Springboks look towards being contenders for World Cup glory in Japan next year.
Erasmus has signed a five-year contract to the end of the 2023 World Cup in France and has been tasked with improving the results of the side after they slipped to sixth in the World Rugby rankings.
The decision to appoint Erasmus, who had been acting as director of rugby in South Africa, was widely expected and he will stay in both roles as he finally fulfills his ambition of coaching the side having missed out to Coetzee two years ago.
Exeter’s Premiership match at home to Saracens has been put back 24 hours until Sunday to try to beat the weather.