Eddie Jones says Japan need talent-spotting regime

Former Japan manager Eddie Jones believes the nation needs to implement a talent-spotting regime if it is to succeed at the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

With Japan set to host the first Rugby World Cup on Asian soil in four years' time, Jones believes it is time for the country's rugby officials to improve the profile of the game.  

Jones, who guided Japan to three out of four pool wins at this year's tournament - including a shock victory against South Africa - feels that if the nation are to become a power in world rugby, they will need to focus on the development of the game at grassroots level.

Speaking at the Japanese Press Club, Jones said: "At the moment in Japanese rugby, talent is not being developed.

"To shine in world rugby you need to identify talented players at 16 or 18 years of age to develop the next generation of players, but that isn't being done at the moment."

Jones, also hinted that the future of the association will be based on the country fielding a multi-cultural team for major tournaments.

Japan's squad at England 2015 was based around foreign imports, with New Zealand-born Karne Hesketh scoring the winning try in Japan's 34-32 victory over South Africa.

Other than Hesketh, six out of the 15 players who lined up against the Springboks for Japan's first pool game were born outside Japan - and Jones believes this is just part of the way the game has evolved over the years. 

Jones added: "In every sport in the world, you know have these situations. Look at the teams in the World Cup. Look at Australia; you have Tongans, Samoans, Papua New Guineans and a few white Australians.

"New Zealand has Samoans, Fijians, Tongans and a few white New Zealanders. Most teams in the world are becoming multi-cultural. You just can't fight it."