Friday 31 January 2020 Within a month of taking England to the Rugby World Cup final in Japan, head coach Eddie Jones was putting 60 Leeds youngsters through their paces at GSAL. Eddie visited the school to give a talk for Ilkley Literature Festival about his autobiography Eddie Jones: My Life and Rugby. While here, he also showed his support for the next generation of rugby players from GSAL Junior School and local rugby clubs West Park, Leodiensians and Roundhegians, on the new floodlit 3G pitch. After the training session, he cut the ribbon to officially open the pitch which is used extensively by community football and rugby clubs as well as the school. Following a Q&A session with the youngsters, Eddie was in conversation about his autobiography with Ian Ritchie, an old boy of Leeds Grammar School, before an audience of 450 as part of Ilkley Literature Festival. Ian was the ideal choice of interviewer – during his time as chief executive of the RFU he had recruited Eddie as England head coach. Their discussion ranged from Eddie’s childhood in Sydney, when being good at sport became a way to fit in, his teaching career which peaked at acting principal of the International Grammar School in Sydney, the highs and lows of playing and coaching rugby, the support of his family, and his reflections on the Rugby World Cup in Japan. Alumni
