Kingsley Jones has stepped down as head coach of Canada’s men’s rugby team after seven years in the position. The decision was said to be mutual and will help the team navigate a new direction in preparation for the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
Tenure Highlights
Jones took over the head coach spot in September 2017 after Mark Anscombe. During his tenure, Canada qualified for the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan where they failed to win a match. The team notably missed the 2023 World Cup, Canada’s first absence ever.
During that time, Jones won 14 out of 48 test matches, giving him a win-rate of 27%. Nonetheless, he still managed to spearhead the revival of the Pacific Pride Development Academy and the return of men’s age-grade programs lost to COVID-19.
The Focus on Player Development
Jones stressed player development: more than 100 Canadian players secured contracts with Major League Rugby (MLR) franchises, another 12 with European development academies and Southern Hemisphere provincial squads. During his tenure, over 50 players from both the Pacific Pride Development Academy and the sevens program progressed to play for Canada’s men’s rugby team.
Leadership Off the Field
Outside coaching, Jones provided leadership during great occasions, leading the team’s cleanup in Kamaishi, Japan, after Typhoon Hagibis during the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
Statements on Departure
Looking back on his tenure with Rugby Canada, Jones commented, “It has been an honour, and a great experience for myself and my family, to have been with Rugby Canada for the past seven years. He had praise for the programs discipline, hard work and professionalism.
The CEO of Rugby Canada Nathan Bombrys issued a statement thanking Jones for his service saying “On behalf of Rugby Canada, I would like to thank Kingsley for his dedication and contributions to rugby in Canada over the last seven years.
Future Outlook
Rugby Canada has commenced a succession planning process for new leadership for the mens rugby programme. Jones will help out in the meantime. The organization looks to continue to build on the work that Jones has done over his term, developing young talent and taking the team to new heights on the world stage.
With Canada now setting its sights on the 2027 Rugby World Cup, the focus will shift to capitalizing on the potential of this youthful roster while building on the momentum gained across player development pathways. Its intent is to help make Canada more competitive and enjoy additional success in upcoming international competitions.
