Gary Gold set to be appointed as Japan’s defence coach

Former Kobe Steelers head coach Gary Gold is set to be appointed as Japan’s new defence coach.

The South African led Kobe to the top of the table at the end of the 2014-2015 season before they lost to Shizuoka Blue Revs (then Yamaha Júbilo) in the Top League semi-finals. Cape Town native Gold originally inked a three-year deal with Kobe but, after one season, returned home as the Director of Rugby at the Sharks under former Springbok captain John Smit.

Gold, 57, led the USA national team from 2018 to 2022 and will fill the role that was vacated by Japan’s former defence coach David Kidwell who spent the latter half of the season on a secondment with Leicester Tigers.  

Eddie Jones told the media that Kidwell had ‘retired’ from his role with the Brave Blossoms during their training at the start of June.

Former London Irish, Western Province and Bath boss Gold has been helping out at Japan’s current training camp in Miyazaki ahead of the Japan XV clash with the Māori Al Blacks next week and the two Test matches against Wales in July.

Gold is now set to finalise his contract with the JRFU and is already linking up with countryman Victor Matfield who has been at Japan’s training sessions in his capacity as their Technical Advisor.  

Picture courtesy of JRFU

Eddie Jones will name his Japan XV team to face the Māori All Blacks on Thursday. The Brave Blossoms’ annual fixture against against the visitors will take place at Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium in Tokyo on Saturday 28 June.

Stay tuned to RugbyJP.com for full coverage of Japan’s summer fixtures.