Departing England coach Jones 'is fine' - Nienaber

Jones (left) moved into coaching after a neck injury ended his playing career at 28, and has worked alongside Nienaber at Munster and South Africa

Leinster boss Jacques Nienaber says he has seen England's outgoing defence coach Felix Jones socially since the Irishman was replaced in Steve Borthwick's set-up.

Nienaber, who worked with Jones in South Africa's successful Rugby World Cup campaigns in 2019 and 2023, says the pair met up to watch the Springboks clinch their Rugby Championship title on Saturday.

Jones, who resigned from his England role in September after only seven months, is being held to a 12-month notice period by the Rugby Football Union.

With Oyonnax head coach Joe El-Abd recruited as defence coach in his place, Jones will work remotely, providing tactical analysis for England.

"We see each other often," Nienaber told the Irish Independent.

"Look, I just asked him was he OK and he is fine. It is what it is. I didn't ask him for detail. I don't think it is my business.

"[I said] Is there anything I can do for you? No, he is busy with whatever he is busy with [for] the RFU. It's his thing."

During his time with England former Ireland international Jones, 37, recreated South Africa's high-speed 'blitz' defence with some success.

England conceded 13 tries in the 2024 Six Nations, compared to 18 in their previous campaign, and two tries in each of their three summer Tests.

Jones' departure followed the exit of England's head of strength and conditioning Aled Walters, who had worked alongside Jones and Nienaber in both the Munster and South Africa set-ups, for a similar job with Ireland a month earlier.

Walters, Neinaber and Jones were part of the South Africa coaching set-up that outsmarted England in the 2019 Rugby World Cup final in Japan