Jones could be ousted from Reds post - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Jones could be ousted from Reds post

By Jim Morton and Laine Clark 21/02/2007 11:13:19 PM Comments (0)

Eddie Jones is in danger of being sensationally ousted from his Queensland Super 14 coaching post.

A SANZAR source told AAP late Wednesday Jones could be barred from coaching in the Super 14 after Thursday's judicial hearing into his weekend attack on referee Matt Goddard.

It's understood Super 14 and Australian Rugby Union chiefs are at the end of their tether with Jones and are considering taking matters into their own hands.

The latest twist in the ARU-Jones saga comes after the outspoken Reds coach asked to have his hearing delayed at the 11th hour on Tuesday, to help his counsel prepare a defence, but then niggled the ARU at a press conference on Wednesday.

Jones faces a heavy fine, possibly $10,000, for his scathing and unflinching criticism of Goddard's performance in the Reds' 6-3 loss to the Brumbies on Saturday night.

But SANZAR, the governing body of the Super 14 which is this year headed by the ARU, is also poised to strike if Jones argues he can't be censured because he's not subject to SANZAR jurisdiction.

Jones is employed as a contracted consultant by the QRU and is expected to argue he can't be brought into line through the SANZAR judicial hearing in Sydney.

"If he's saying 'I cant be fined or suspended, I'm a private contractor', then why should he qualify as a Super 14 coach?" said the source.

It's understood high-ranking New Zealand officials are supporting their Australian counterparts in cutting Jones down to size.

Jones was not backing down from his ref-bashing earlier Wednesday but insisted there should be a forum to review referees' performances.

Addressing media at Reds training at Ballymore, Jones initially tried to deflect talk about his tribunal appearance.

But when asked if referees were a protected species, Jones did not hold back, saying whistleblowers had to be accountable.

"Every part of our game is under review all the time, and we must have a forum to review referees as well," said Jones.

"We are getting 9-3, 9-6s (scorelines) and they (referees) are having a significant part in the game.

"I was thinking back to rugby league in the 70s and 80s when you lost games from feeds in the scrums and loose arms.

"That's how significant referees are in rugby at the moment. They decide games and we need to have the highest standard of refereeing."

Jones thought SANZAR was on the right track last year when there was a move for whistleblowers to attend post-match press conferences.

Jones was scheduled to appear before the tribunal in Brisbane on Tuesday night over his post-match comments, which included labelling Goddard's second-half handling of the scrums as "ludicrous" and "disgraceful".

However, it was postponed until 6pm Thursday night after Jones' counsel sought clarification on SANZAR's jurisdiction.

Jones is the first coach in Super rugby history to be cited for breaching the SANZAR code of conduct and faces a warning, fine or even suspension.

He said he had no intention of retracting his comments and did not rule out future criticism.

"I think I have a duty as coach to support my team to ensure we believe we get a fair go and the comments I have made have been in line with that," he said.

"I think it is important to have a code of conduct. I don't think you can continuously criticise any part of the game.

"You have to have some objectivity but at the same time if there is something wrong in the game you have to be able to voice it.

"As long as you don't do it all the time, there needs to be a channel for it."

If Jones was stressing about the possibility of incurring a suspension before the Reds match against the Blues in Auckland on Saturday it didn't show on Wednesday.

He joked that he might follow the lead of Chelsea and former Porto soccer coach Jose Mourinho and text instructions to his assistants from the grandstand.

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