NRL great Brett Hodgson joins Eddie Jones' Wallabies coaching team
Eddie Jones has made the first appointment to his Wallabies coaching team, signing NRL great Brett Hodgson as his defence coach on a two-year contract.
Hodgson, 45, played 351 games in the NRL and England's Super League and represented NSW in six State of Origin games.
He then started a dual code coaching career in 2012, working with Sale Sharks, Hull FC and Wests Tigers before joining Jones with England last year.
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England defence coach Brett Hodgson at Pennyhill Park. Getty
Jones has now decided to continue that partnership in Australia.
"Brett's a hard working and detailed young coach who will be a great asset to the Wallabies and the coaching staff," Jones said.
"He's worked under some great coaching mentors like Gus Gould and Tim Sheens in his time as a player and a coach, so he's well schooled and I know he'll give his best to the job of producing the best defence in the world."
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Johnathan Thurston of Queensland tackles Brett Hodgson of New South Wales. Getty
Hodgson will begin his role with the Wallabies immediately.
"I'm really excited to be back in Australia and working with the Wallabies, especially in a World Cup year," Hodgson said.
"There's plenty of hard work ahead and I'm looking forward to hitting the ground running and making a positive contribution to the team.
"The Wallabies are a team everyone in Australia loves to get behind and from what I've seen so far there's plenty of talent here and that's something that's really exciting."
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