Ex-Bok coach Proudfoot named England forwards coach

Cape Town - Former Springbok assistant coach, Matthew Proudfoot has been named in Eddie Jones' England coaching team for the upcoming Six Nations tournament.

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Proudfoot will become the new forwards coach under Jones.

He joins the RFU following the conclusion of his contract with South Africa.

The 47-year-old former prop was part of the Springbok coaching team at the 2019 Rugby World Cup after having been involved with South Africa since 2016.

Proudfoot was delighted with his new appointment.

"England is probably the best team in world rugby to coach,"said Proudfoot.

"Having coached against them you get to respect their identity so to get the opportunity to be part of that is a huge honour and privilege.

"I am really grateful to Eddie, the rest of the coaching staff and the RFU to be given this chance. It is a decision I take with great humility and responsibility and know there is a huge legacy to live up to. I look forward to taking that challenge on and doing England proud."

Jones welcomed the technical expertise that he believes Proudfoot would bring to the England coaching setup.

"Matt Proudfoot has had an outstanding coaching career to date culminating in being a World Cup winning coach with South Africa," said Jones.

"He brings great technical expertise and knowledge having coached in South Africa and Japan and having played in Scotland and South Africa. We feel he can take the forwards to another level and build on the great work Neal and Steve have done over the last four years."

Proudfoot is joined in Jones' team by Simon Amor (attack coach) while Steve Borthwick changes roles to skills coach and John Mitchell continues as defence coach.

Eddie Jones names his new coaching team ???? Matt Proudfoot joins as forwards coach?? Simon Amor becomes attack coach ?? Steve Borthwick switches to skills coach ?? John Mitchell continues to lead defence Find out more ? https://t.co/4s6B1KcJkJ pic.twitter.com/GUhDSN98Lu

— England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) January 13, 2020