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Claude Puel welcomes England rugby coach Eddie Jones to Southampton in bid to kick-start campaign

Southampton manager Claude Puel has traded tips with England rugby head coach Eddie Jones in an attempt to kick their poor start to the season into touch.

Jones, who has won a Grand Slam and whitewashed Australia in a series Down Under since he took over the England team last year, visited Southampton's Staplewood training ground on Wednesday. He observed as the players trained ahead of their Europa League opener against Sparta Prague on Thursday.

Jones was introduced to the squad before the session started, who gave him a round of applause. 'I didn't know who he was at first,' defender Virgil van Dijk admitted, 'I am not a big rugby fan anyway, but yeah he is a legend.