Jones comes with small price tag

Jones comes with small price tag The CEO of the Namibia Rugby Union, Elizma Theron, has revealed that newly appointed Currie Cup Welwitschias coach Lyn Jones did not demand a high salary when approached by the NRU.

The rugby union announced last week that it had secured the services of a high-profile Welshman following the resignation of former coach John Williams.

“We were surprised that he accepted such an inexpensive offer given that we could not pay even more than a N$50 000 a month for anyone who was to take the position.

“It shows that he is just willing to help Namibian rugby and not in it for the money like many top coaches would have wanted.

“It is important to bring in such a coach because many of the local guys will learn from him, given the amount of expertise and experience he has,” Theron said.

The CEO added that no Namibian candidate applied for the job even though the position was advertised locally and internationally.

She said among the candidates were South Africans, a Kenyan and the Welshman.

“The other thing is that the offer was going to be the same for anyone who was willing to take the job.

“I will not be able to tell you how much he will be getting because that is confidential, but he will be getting the same salary as the former coach.

“Namibia Breweries Limited and FNB will be contributing some percentage of his salary while the NRU will pay the rest,” she said.

The 52-year-old has previously coached the New Port Gwen Dragons and three other clubs since he started coaching in 1994.

Jones will be the second Welshman to hold a position in the NRU, with the other being his former teammate Phil Davies. The coach is expected to be at the helm of the Currie Cup team for eight months.

JESSE JACKSON KAURAISA