England head coach Eddie Jones has described managing the national team as being a “battleground.”
Jones, 59, has insisted that the relationship between the clubs and the Rugby Football Union (RFU) must be improved in England to take the team forward.
“I’ve always thought there was opportunity to do something better,” Jones told the LifeTimes podcast. “But then when you get into the game here, you find out why — because it’s a difficult job. It’s a battleground.
“The national team is a battleground between the clubs and the RFU and you sit in the middle and you’re blamed for most things. If the clubs aren’t going well, it’s your fault. If the RFU’s not making money, it’s your fault. That’s the tricky part of it.”
England endured a disappointing campaign during the Six Nations earlier this year and Jones is concerned that the nation’s traditions are holding back the team.
He added: “I just feel like you are always being held back [in England]. There are wonderful players here and a wonderful opportunity, but it’s always being held back by the traditions of the game here.
“The traditions of the game here are such that the clubs run themselves and the RFU try to manage it.”
Jones is preparing the national team for the upcoming World Cup in Japan and selected his 29-man training squad last week.
The Australian, who has won 31 of 40 games as England boss, enjoyed success in his first two years in the job with back-to-back Six Nations victories in 2016 and 2017.