Japan rugby coach Jones out of hospital after stroke

Japan head coach Eddie Jones has been released from hospital nearly 40 days after suffering a stroke while preparing his squad for their clash with the All Blacks. The 53-year-old Australian, a former Brumbies and Wallabies coach, left the Tokyo hospital on Saturday, the Japan Rugby Football Union said in a statement. Jones is due to hold a news conference on Friday to explain about his condition, look back on the past year and outline his plans for 2014, the union said. He had been treated at the hospital since October 15 when he returned home from an inspection of the Japanese national team's domestic training camp ahead of their match with world champions New Zealand in Tokyo. He was moved from an intensive care unit to a general ward on October 18. Jones has missed the Brave Blossoms' 54-6 defeat by a young All Blacks side on November 2 as well as their three-Test European tour which ended on a winning note on Saturday. Scott Wisemantel, a former Wallabies skills coach who serves as a technical adviser for the Japan squad, has filled in for Jones in these Tests. On Saturday, Japan finished off their European tour and 2013 international season by downing Spain 40-7 at Madrid Ciudad Universitaria Stadium. They earlier bowed to Scotland 42-17 and whipped Russia 40-13. Jones took over from All Black legend John Kirwan in April 2012 after guiding the Wallabies to the 2003 World Cup final, which they lost to England. He also served as adviser to South Africa when they won the 2007 World Cup. He has led the Blossoms to their fifth and sixth straight Asian Five Nations titles. Jones has vowed to develop Japan into a top-10 rugby nation before the 2015 World Cup in England, as the Asian champions prepare to host the 2019 edition. However, they finished fourth in the five-way Pacific Nations Cup last June. Source: AFP