England recruit Marc dal Maso as scrum consultant
Friday 6 October 2017 20:42, UK
England head coach Eddie Jones has recruited Marc dal Maso as scrum consultant on a 12-month contract.
Dal Maso was part of Jones' coaching team with Japan at the 2015 World Cup, operating alongside Steve Borthwick, and is currently working as Toulon's forwards coach.
The 50-year-old former France hooker, who has Parkinson's disease, will spend a total of three days with England during the 12 months but will also provide video analysis from overseas during the year, the Rugby Football Union has confirmed.
Jones has brought in several coaches on a short-term basis in the past, among them Jonny Wilkinson, George Smith and Glen Ella.
Meanwhile, England have released their 10th kit in just over three years - and will wear it only once.
The alternate dark grey jersey for the 2017/18 season will be used against Argentina in the opening autumn international at Twickenham on November 11 before being discarded by the Six Nations champions.
The women's team will wear their version of the same strip in their second autumn game against Canada.
Makers Canterbury claim the kit is "inspired by distraction principles", supports Jones' "vision to be more disruptive and uncompromising on the field" and makes it "harder to distinguish aspects of the body during the tackle".
The total kit will cost £140, a price made up mainly of the £95 outlay for the Test replica shirt, although alternative versions are available at £70 and £65.
The RFU insists the new shirt continues the standard policy of releasing two each season, with World Cup versions carrying sponsors logos adding to the total.
