Kingsley Jones to step down as Head Coach of Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team

With the 2024 season for Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team now concluded, and as work continues towards qualification for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, Rugby Canada and Head Coach Kingsley Jones recognize the need to set Canada’s Men's Rugby Team in a new direction and have mutually agreed to part ways.  

In his time with Rugby Canada, Jones played a pivotal role in the successful reboot of the Pacific Pride Development Academy, the return of Canada’s men’s age grade programming following the Covid-19 pandemic, and the development of Canadian coaches such as Sean White, Phil Mack and Hubert Buydens.  

Over the last seven years, he has worked to increase the depth of Canada’s men’s rugby program, fostering opportunities for Canadian players to compete and train in the MLR and overseas, and improve collaboration between Rugby Canada’s sevens and 15s programs. During his time with Rugby Canada, over 100 Canadian players have been contracted to MLR teams and 12 to European development academies and southern hemisphere provincial squads, with over 50 Pacific Pride Development Academy and sevens program players graduating through to Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team. 

He leaves behind a senior national team with an average age of 24, which allows for the development of young talent who, with continued time in high performance training environments and further experience, can elevate the team’s performance and competitiveness on the international stage. 

Jones saw Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team through qualification for the 2019 Rugby World Cup, which involved winning the final repechage tournament, a campaign that required substantial work over a short period of time. Jones led with Canadian values, as evidenced in scenarios such as the team’s clean-up efforts in Kamaishi, Japan following destruction from Typhoon Hagibis during the 2019 Rugby World Cup. 

“It has been an honour, and a great experience for myself and my family, to be with Rugby Canada over the last seven years,” said Jones. “The discipline, hard work and professionalism of the great people in this program are second to none, and I would like to thank the players and the staff for their commitment and support.”   

“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,” said Nathan Bombrys, Rugby Canada CEO. “We wish him and his family all the best in this next chapter.” 

Rugby Canada has already begun work on a succession plan, with further information to be announced in due course. Jones will stay on to see Rugby Canada through this transitional period.