Titans sack head coach Jones after succession of defeats

Former Wales wing Jones, 36, was dismissed after overseeing a horrendous run of 10 games without a win.

Seven of those came in the Championship, a sequence that culminated in last Saturday’s defeat at bottom club Moseley, which leaves Rotherham just seven points above the one and only relegation place.

Rotherham chairman Nick Cragg said: “It’s a shame, but we are in a results business.

“Mark Jones has been a class individual throughout and we have kept him informed at all times. This has not been a knee-jerk reaction.”

The club are keeping the identity of Jones’s successor close to their chests, but it is understood the new man’s priority will be keeping the club in the second tier.

Beyond that, there is the option to extend that relationship depending on results.

Relegation would be catastrophic for a club that twice tasted Premiership rugby in the early part of the century.

It would mean the Clifton Lane club would have to consider returning to their part-time roots as National One is made up primarily of non-professional clubs.

The slide down the table has been especially alarming given the nature of their performances over the last two seasons, when they surprised everybody by finishing in the top four and contesting the promotion play-offs.

Jones, who succeeded Lee Blackett last summer, said: “I would like to thank Rotherham Titans for the opportunity to coach in the Championship.

“I am very content with what I have done and the way I have gone about it. I would like to thank the players and the back room staff for all their hard work.”

Johnny Sexton suffered a “whiplash injury” to his neck and shoulder in Ireland’s 10-9 RBS Six Nations defeat to France, says head coach Joe Schmidt.

Fly-half Sexton appeared dazed on leaving the Stade de France field after several questionable hits on Saturday.,