Guardiola Reaching Out To The Rugby World

Jap Rugby gets 'Pep Talk'

As if conquering world football wasn't enough, Pep Guardiola now is being asked to coach rugby sides to as Japan manager Jones asked the Bayern Manager for his opinion.

The Japanese head coach who believes the basics of the game are similar, asked Guardiola to help him struggling national team side, who hope to do well in the upcoming Rugby world cup in England.

Japan have been drawn in Pool B of next year’s World Cup in England along with Samoa, South Africa, Scotland and USA.

Jones said: “The main thing we learnt this year was that we have to be tactically more flexible. We need to react to situations on the field and make adjustments to the way we play,” the Australian was quoted as saying by Kyodo News on Monday.

“The soccer approach is called tactical periodisation, in which everything is done in preparation for the game and in order to be tactically aware.”

“I watched Bayern train and had a really good meeting with the head coach and I really think we can improve greatly with adjustments in the way we train. He is the best soccer coach in the world and you always want to learn from the best.

“Rugby and soccer are very similar in that you always want to move the ball into space and Bayern Munich and his previous team Barcelona played the most fantastic passing game you have ever seen. The principles are exactly the same.

“The very best soccer teams vary their depth and formation in order to make the most of the space. So when you get the chance to learn from the best it’s a fantastic opportunity.”