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Alan Jones AO is one of Australia’s most prominent and influential broadcasters. He is a former successful radio figure and coach of the Australian National Rugby Union team, the Wallabies. He has also been a Rugby League coach and administrator, with senior roles in the Australian Sports Commission, the Institute of Sport and the Sydney Cricket Ground Trust. Alan Jones is a former Senior Advisor and Speechwriter to the former Australian Prime Minister, Malcolm Fraser.

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CommentaryRugby Union

APAC Sports Pictures of the Week - 2020, July 27 - SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JULY 24: Tom Horton of the Waratahs is tackled by Andrew Kellaway of the Rebels during the round 4 Super Rugby AU match between the NSW Waratahs and the Melbourne Rebels at Sydney Cricket Ground on July 24, 2020 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Power-drunk leaders, heed The Bard

Just like Richard III, the average rugby punter knows that those in charge of the game are not to be trusted.

Alan Jones

COMMENTARYRugby Union

South Sydney's Joseph Suaalii for SG Ball

Don’t break the bank for schoolboy

Signing Joseph Suaalii isn’t a mistake but what does it say when a 16-year-old is offered a deal as big as the Wallaby captain?

Alan Jones

Rugby Union

15/5/20: The new rugby Australia chairman, Hamish McLennan at Rugby Australia Head Office, Sydney. John Feder/The Australian.

The choice: old fart or visionary?

The disillusionment about the game would appear to be similar to that around the time of the rugby league revolution.

Alan Jones

COMMENTARYRugby Union

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 03: James O'Connor of the Reds attempts to break away from the defence during the round 1 Super Rugby AU match between the Queensland Reds and the New South Wales Waratahs at Suncorp Stadium on July 03, 2020 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Entertain and the fans will follow

If we want viewers to watch rugby and we want the broadcast revenue that comes with entertaining matches, we need to put on a good show.

Alan Jones

Rugby Union

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 30: Rory O'Sullivan in action during a Western Force Super Rugby training session at UWA Sports Park on June 30, 2020 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

Leaders must think big for rugby’s future

The axing of 12 development officers in NSW is reason why rugby’s grass roots must be given a say.

Alan Jones

Rugby Union

Action pictures from the Shute Shield Semi-Final between Eastern Districts and Eastern Suburbs at TG Milner Field in Marsfield on 11th August 2019.(AAP Image / Julian Andrews).

Chip in to keep the bastards honest

The shoddy treatment of club rugby by Rugby Australia shows why the code needs a grassroots revolution.

Alan Jones

COMMENTARYRugby Union

TOKYO, JAPAN - SEPTEMBER 27: David Pocock of Australia pushes in a scrum during a training session at Urayasu Park on September 27, 2019 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

I feel the need for speed in rugby

The law changes for Australia’s Super Rugby competition ignore the two biggest blights on the game.

Alan Jones

Rugby Union

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 10: James O'Connor of the Wallabies takes selfies for fans after winning the 2019 Rugby Championship Test Match between the Australian Wallabies and the New Zealand All Blacks at Optus Stadium on August 10, 2019 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

Give fans a say in the running of rugby

Rugby Australia must immediately change their constitution and give code’s supporters some meaningful ownership of the game.

Alan Jones

commentaryRugby Union

Rugby Australia Director of Rugby, Scott Johnson is seen during a press conference at Ballymore in Brisbane, Monday, May 18, 2020. This week sees the St.George Queensland Reds return to training following two months in isolation due to the COVID-19 global pandemic and subsequent Government restrictions. (AAP Image/Dan Peled) NO ARCHIVING

We can’t have two bosses

The high performance unit of Rugby Australia must not be spared the ruthless clean-out that has hit the rest of the organisation.

Alan Jones

Rugby Union

DUBLIN, IRELAND - MAY 11: (L-R) Agustin Pichot (new Vice-Chairman of World Rugby) and Bill Beaumont (new Chairman of World Rugby) pose for a photograph during a media conference to introduce the new World Rugby Chairman and Vice-Chairman on May 11, 2016 in Dublin, Ireland. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

Rugby shenanigans a worldwide malaise

Unless the constitution changes to give the rugby family a say, we face the disturbing truth that we will simply be fed more of the same.

Alan Jones

Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/author/alan-jones/page/7