"
data-check-event-based-preview=""
data-is-vertical-video-embed="false"
data-network-id=""
data-publish-date="2017-10-26T15:30:22Z"
data-video-section="sport"
data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/videos/sports/2017/10/26/eddie-jones-england-rugby-apprentices-marcus-smith-zach-mercer-intv.cnn"
data-branding-key="rugby-sevens-worldwide"
data-video-slug="eddie jones england rugby apprentices marcus smith zach mercer intv"
data-first-publish-slug="eddie jones england rugby apprentices marcus smith zach mercer intv"
data-video-tags="apprenticeships and internships,coaches and trainers,curricula,education,england,europe,northern europe,press conferences,sports and recreation,united kingdom,rugby,sports organizations and teams,rugby football union"
data-details="">
"
data-check-event-based-preview=""
data-is-vertical-video-embed="false"
data-network-id=""
data-publish-date="2017-10-26T15:30:22Z"
data-video-section="sport"
data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/videos/sports/2017/10/26/eddie-jones-england-rugby-apprentices-marcus-smith-zach-mercer-intv.cnn"
data-branding-key="rugby-sevens-worldwide"
data-video-slug="eddie jones england rugby apprentices marcus smith zach mercer intv"
data-first-publish-slug="eddie jones england rugby apprentices marcus smith zach mercer intv"
data-video-tags="apprenticeships and internships,coaches and trainers,curricula,education,england,europe,northern europe,press conferences,sports and recreation,united kingdom,rugby,sports organizations and teams,rugby football union"
data-details="">
"
data-check-event-based-preview=""
data-is-vertical-video-embed="false"
data-network-id=""
data-publish-date="2021-02-26T10:45:30Z"
data-video-section="sport"
data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/videos/sports/2021/02/25/eddie-jones-england-rugby-football-coaches-pep-guardiola-alex-ferguson-spt-intl.cnn"
data-branding-key=""
data-video-slug="eddie jones england rugby football coaches pep guardiola alex ferguson spt intl"
data-first-publish-slug="eddie jones england rugby football coaches pep guardiola alex ferguson spt intl"
data-video-tags="continents and regions,eddie jones,england,europe,northern europe,sports figures,united kingdom"
data-details="">
Video Ad Feedback
Eddie Jones: 'If I didn't get anxious, I'd give away coaching'
"
data-check-event-based-preview=""
data-is-vertical-video-embed="false"
data-network-id=""
data-publish-date="2020-04-28T10:27:45Z"
data-video-section="sport"
data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/videos/sports/2020/04/27/siya-kolisi-time-out-charity-townships-rugby-world-cup-south-africa-spt-intl-lon-orig.cnn"
data-branding-key=""
data-video-slug="siya kolisi time out charity townships rugby world cup south africa spt intl lon orig"
data-first-publish-slug="siya kolisi time out charity townships rugby world cup south africa spt intl lon orig"
data-video-tags="sports and recreation,rugby,society,charities and charitable giving,sports figures,siya kolisi,sports events,rugby events,rugby world cup,continents and regions,africa,southern africa,south africa,diseases and disorders,health and medical,infectious diseases"
data-details="">
Video Ad Feedback
Time Out: Siya Kolisi donates supplies to townships in the pandemic
"
data-check-event-based-preview=""
data-is-vertical-video-embed="false"
data-network-id=""
data-publish-date="2021-02-26T10:44:57Z"
data-video-section="sport"
data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/videos/sports/2021/02/25/eddie-jones-england-rugby-social-media-abuse-racism-spt-intl.cnn"
data-branding-key=""
data-video-slug="eddie jones england rugby social media abuse racism spt intl"
data-first-publish-slug="eddie jones england rugby social media abuse racism spt intl"
data-video-tags="coaches and trainers,continents and regions,eddie jones,england,europe,internet and www,northern europe,social media,sports and recreation,sports figures,technology,united kingdom"
data-details="">
Video Ad Feedback
Social media is 'never going to change,' says England coach Eddie Jones
"
data-check-event-based-preview=""
data-is-vertical-video-embed="false"
data-network-id=""
data-publish-date="2019-12-12T12:21:47Z"
data-video-section="sport"
data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/videos/sports/2019/12/04/sonny-bill-williams-rugby-new-zealand-interview-spt-intl.cnn"
data-branding-key=""
data-video-slug="sonny bill williams rugby new zealand interview spt intl"
data-first-publish-slug="sonny bill williams rugby new zealand interview spt intl"
data-video-tags="belief, religion and spirituality,christchurch,continents and regions,international relations and national security,islam,national security,new zealand,oceania,religious groups,rugby,society,sonny bill williams,sports and recreation,sports figures,terrorism,terrorism and counter-terrorism,terrorist attacks,unrest, conflicts and war"
data-details="">
Video Ad Feedback
Sonny Bill Williams: 'I had to step up' after terror attacks
"
data-check-event-based-preview=""
data-is-vertical-video-embed="false"
data-network-id=""
data-publish-date="2019-11-07T16:51:46Z"
data-video-section="sport"
data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/videos/sports/2019/11/07/south-africa-rugby-world-cup-celebrations-spt-intl.cnn"
data-branding-key="rugby-world-cup"
data-video-slug="south africa rugby world cup celebrations spt intl"
data-first-publish-slug="south africa rugby world cup celebrations spt intl"
data-video-tags="siya kolisi,sports figures,continents and regions,africa,southern africa,south africa,sports organizations and teams,springboks,david mckenzie,misc people,rugby,rugby events,rugby world cup,sports and recreation,sports events"
data-details="">
"
data-check-event-based-preview=""
data-is-vertical-video-embed="false"
data-network-id=""
data-publish-date="2019-11-18T15:07:00Z"
data-video-section="sport"
data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/videos/sports/2019/11/18/sonny-bill-williams-toronto-wolfpack-new-zealand-rugby-interview-spt-intl.cnn"
data-branding-key="rugby-sevens-worldwide"
data-video-slug="sonny bill williams toronto wolfpack new zealand rugby interview spt intl"
data-first-publish-slug="sonny bill williams toronto wolfpack new zealand rugby interview spt intl"
data-video-tags="sports and recreation,rugby,sports figures,sonny bill williams,sports events,rugby events,continents and regions,oceania,new zealand"
data-details="">
Video Ad Feedback
Sonny Bill Williams hoping to 'open doors' with rugby league switch
"
data-check-event-based-preview=""
data-is-vertical-video-embed="false"
data-network-id=""
data-publish-date="2019-11-05T11:03:56Z"
data-video-section="sport"
data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/videos/sports/2019/11/05/siya-kolisi-south-africa-rugby-world-cup-champions-2019-japan-england-spt-intl.cnn"
data-branding-key="rugby-world-cup"
data-video-slug="siya kolisi south africa rugby world cup champions 2019 japan england spt intl"
data-first-publish-slug="siya kolisi south africa rugby world cup champions 2019 japan england spt intl"
data-video-tags="africa,christina macfarlane,continents and regions,misc people,rugby,rugby events,rugby world cup,siya kolisi,south africa,southern africa,sports and recreation,sports events,sports figures"
data-details="">
Video Ad Feedback
Siya Kolisi: It's a privilege to fight for the people back home
"
data-check-event-based-preview=""
data-is-vertical-video-embed="false"
data-network-id=""
data-publish-date="2019-09-16T12:53:55Z"
data-video-section="sport"
data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/videos/sports/2019/09/10/rugby-world-cup-tattoo-japan-new-zealand-sonny-bill-williams-spt-intl-lon-orig.cnn"
data-branding-key="rugby-world-cup"
data-video-slug="rugby world cup tattoo japan new zealand sonny bill williams spt intl lon orig"
data-first-publish-slug="rugby world cup tattoo japan new zealand sonny bill williams spt intl lon orig"
data-video-tags="asia,continents and regions,crime, law enforcement and corrections,criminal offenses,diet, nutrition and fitness,east asia,exercise and fitness,health and medical,japan,organized crime,outdoor recreation,rugby,rugby events,rugby world cup,social cultures and lifestyles,society,sports and recreation,sports events,sports organizations and teams,world rugby"
data-details="">
"
data-check-event-based-preview=""
data-is-vertical-video-embed="false"
data-network-id=""
data-publish-date="2019-03-26T12:11:42Z"
data-video-section="sport"
data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/videos/sports/2019/03/12/haka-new-zealand-all-blacks-rugby-vision-spt-intl.cnn"
data-branding-key="rugby-sevens-worldwide"
data-video-slug="haka new zealand all blacks rugby vision spt intl"
data-first-publish-slug="haka new zealand all blacks rugby vision spt intl"
data-video-tags="arts and entertainment,auckland,continents and regions,dancers and dancing,maori people,minority and ethnic groups,music and dance,new zealand,oceania,society,curricula,education,performing arts"
data-details="">
"
data-check-event-based-preview=""
data-is-vertical-video-embed="false"
data-network-id=""
data-publish-date="2019-01-09T12:18:12Z"
data-video-section="sport"
data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/videos/sports/2019/01/07/siya-kolisi-south-africa-rugby-world-rugby-vision-spt-intl.cnn"
data-branding-key="rugby-sevens-worldwide"
data-video-slug="siya kolisi south africa rugby world rugby vision spt intl"
data-first-publish-slug="siya kolisi south africa rugby world rugby vision spt intl"
data-video-tags="africa,christina macfarlane,continents and regions,misc people,rugby,south africa,southern africa,sports and recreation"
data-details="">
England’s rugby coach, Eddie Jones, has gone all Sir Alan Sugar – or even Donald Trump in an earlier life – and recruited a couple of apprentices for the upcoming Autumn international matches.
Instead of naming the usual 32-man squad, Jones will take 34 players on a training camp to Portugal ahead of the three games against Argentina, Australia and Samoa.
Harlequins fly-half, Marcus Smith, 18, and Bath’s number eight, Zach Mercer, 20, are the lucky youngsters tagging along for the ride with the national team.
They will not be available for selection for the matches but they will be involved in England’s training and preparation for the matches and perhaps a few more mundane tasks too that are usually thrown the way of apprentices as they make their way in the world.
Marcus Smith has impressed playing for Harlequins this season.
Steve Bardens/Getty Images
Zach Mercer captained England U20s to 2017 Six Nations Grand Slam.
Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
“Well you’ve got apprentices in your office,” joked Jones at a media conference in London on Thursday.
“They make the tea, they get the paper when they need some paper, they get the paper clips so, yeah, they’ll make the tea, get people’s boots, put out the cones, chase balls and practice a little bit at the right time.
“They’ve got to earn their stripes.”
They might be making the odd cup of tea, but Smith and Mercer will be treated as any other squad player in terms of payment and their respective clubs will be remunerated for the time they spend with the national team.
They will also get the opportunity to see at close hand a group of players that under Jones, who was appointed in 2015, has won 19 out of 20 games since succeeding Stuart Lancaster.
An Australian, the 57-year-old Jones previously coached a number of leading club sides as well as Australia and Japan.
Pecking order
Teenager Smith, who is being touted as the next Jonny Wilkinson – England’s 2003 World Cup winning star player – was born in the Philippines, raised in Singapore and only moved to England five years ago.
This will be his second experience with the national team after being taken on their three-day pre-season camp in Oxford last month.
He has been on Jones’ radar for a couple of years.
In the build up to the 2015 World Cup, when he was still Japan coach, Jones watched a 16-year-old Smith play for Brighton College against Sussex and stayed to chat to him after the game.
There are still four more players ahead of him in the pecking order for his position but the England coach is looking forward to watching him develop over the next few months.
“He’s courageous, he makes good decisions, he’s got a good passing, kicking, running game,” Jones said of Smith who became the second youngest player to make his English Premiership debut this season.
“He’s got everything there to be a good player but he’s got to learn about the game, he’s got a long way to go physically.
“[Zach] Mercer’s a bit the same. His natural attributes are outstanding. He needs to work harder off the ball but he’s definitely worth investing in and that’s why we’ve got these two guys in, to invest in them and they’re players for the future of English rugby.
"
data-check-event-based-preview=""
data-is-vertical-video-embed="false"
data-network-id=""
data-publish-date="2017-10-26T16:50:28Z"
data-video-section="sport"
data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/videos/sports/2017/10/26/eddie-jones-1-on-1-england-rugby-autumn-internationals-alex-thomas-intv.cnn"
data-branding-key="rugby-sevens-worldwide"
data-video-slug="eddie jones 1 on 1 england rugby autumn internationals alex thomas intv"
data-first-publish-slug="eddie jones 1 on 1 england rugby autumn internationals alex thomas intv"
data-video-tags="alex thomas,argentina,coaches and trainers,england,europe,latin america,northern europe,rugby,south america,sports and recreation,united kingdom,sports organizations and teams,rugby football union,australia,oceania,polynesia,samoa"
data-details="">
“Now whether their futures are the 2019 World Cup will just be dependent on their progress.”
Asked whether they Smith and Mercer could force their way into the squad soon enough to make an appearance in the next three games, Jones quipped: “Depends on how well they make the tea …”