Jimmy Joseph will leave Japan after the World Cup
At the helm of the Brave Blossoms since 2016, the 53-year-old New Zealander will retire after the World Cup in France. Japanese concessions would be interested.
Jimmy Joseph has announced his intention to step down as Japan coach after the Rugby World Cup in France this fall, local media reported Wednesday.
“I think this is the right time for me to retireJoseph told local media during a national team training camp in southern Japan, adding that his priority was to prepare for the World Cup.
Quarter-finals in 2019
The 53-year-old New Zealander led the Brave Blossoms to the quarter-finals of the World Cup for the first time in its history, on home soil four years ago, and will be in charge of the team again at the 2023 World Cup (September 8-October 28).
But the first competition in the world of rugby would mark the end of his seven-and-a-half-year tenure at the helm of Japan.
Joseph was given advice to take charge of the All Blacks, but Scott Robertson was preferred to him in March. It is also said that he has been approached by clubs in the J. League. He told AFP last month:everything is possiblehim after the World Cup.
Japan was placed in Group D along with England, Argentina, Samoa and Chile. Joseph is looking ahead to the quarter-finals again after leading Japan to its best performance of 2019.
The New Zealander took over from Australian Eddie Jones in 2016. Joseph previously led the New Zealand Highlanders franchise to the Super Rugby title in 2015.
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