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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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Rugby Union

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

Seven priorities for RA’s new chair

As Hamish McLennan takes on the role of chairman of Rugby Australia, there are seven things I believe he needs to prioritise,

Alan Jones

Rugby Union

Kurtley Beale in the official Wallabies 2019 Rugby World Cup indigenous jersey. Photo: Rugby AU Media/Stuart Walmsley

Australia didn’t get the best out of Kurtley

With Kurtley Beale leaving for France, Australian rugby has lost one of the most gifted players its produced.

Alan Jones

CommentaryRugby Union

(FILES) In this file photo taken on July 02, 2016 Former England rugby player Bill Beaumont stands in the royal box on centre court as he is introduced on the sixth day of the 2016 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London. - Newly re-elected World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont said on May 3, 2020 plans for a global season are in the early phases of discussion. Former England captain Beaumont, 68, who beat ex-Argentina skipper Agustin Pichot to the position this weekend, said the coronavirus pandemic had encouraged the idea about northern and southern hemisphere campaigns aligning. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE

Six Nations-led code is bad news for RA

The re-election of Bill Beaumont as World Rugby chairman illustrates the point that rugby and politics are inseparable.

Alan Jones

Rugby Union

(FILES) In this file photo taken on November 6, 1999 Australian lock and captain John Eales (L) and Australian scrum-half George Gregan (R) pose with the cup after the Rugby World Cup 1999 final game between France and Australia at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. - Eddie Jones hopes Owen Farrell and Dylan Hartley can follow the example of Australia greats George Gregan and John Eales after naming the pair as England’s co-captains for the November internationals at Twickenham. (Photo by William WEST / AFP)

Focus only on roof and house collapses

At a time when big decisions have to be made a roadmap to redemption for Australian rugby is easy to find.

Alan Jones

COMMENTARYRugby 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)

Turn lemons into lemonade: the plan to save rugby

To transform our game, we have to start with a blank canvas. And the 2027 Rugby World Cup may be the masterpiece we’re crying out for.

Alan Jones

Rugby Union

TOPSHOT - Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi raises La Liga trophy as he celebrates becoming La Liga champions after winning the Spanish League football match between FC Barcelona and Levante UD at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on April 27, 2019. - Lionel Messi clinched an eighth La Liga title for Barcelona in 11 seasons today as he scored the only goal in a 1-0 win over Levante. It is the Catalan club's 26th league title -- second in Spain to Real Madrid's record of 33. (Photo by LLUIS GENE / AFP)

Cheeky Puma holds key to better future

Rugby Australia is now the equivalent of a Banana Republic. We are broke and we are asking World Rugby for a bailout.

Alan Jones

commentaryRugby Union

Rugby Australia chief executive Raelene Castle looks on during the Australian Wallabies Captains Run at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand, Friday, August 16, 2019. The Australian Wallabies player the New Zealand All Blacks in the second Bledisloe Cup on Saturday. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt) NO ARCHIVING

Seven deadly sins of Rugby Australia

There are seven reasons why Raelene Castle and her board must resign or be sacked immediately.

Alan Jones

CommentaryRugby Union

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 17: Rugby Australia Chief Executive Raelene Castle speaks to the media during a press conference at Jones Bay Wharf on March 17, 2020 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

Rugby community must storm the Bastille

We have been around this track before and yet we always finish up at the same destination.

Alan Jones

COMMENTARYRugby Union

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - MARCH 26: Beauden Barrett of the Blues kicks during a kicking training session in isolation at Kings Prep on March 26, 2020 in Auckland, New Zealand. The 2020 Super Rugby season was suspended on 14 March 2020 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and travel restrictions put in place which banned international travel. New Zealand is now in lockdown, with citizens required to remain at home as much as possible. All non-essential businesses are closed, including bars, restaurants, cinemas and playgrounds. Schools are closed and all indoor and outdoor events are banned. Essential services remain open, including supermarkets and pharmacies. New Zealand currently has 205 confirmed cases of COVID-19. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)

Rugby will survive virus but not private equity tryst

Rugby in Australia will learn the harsh lesson of survival of the fittest in this crisis.

Alan Jones

COMMENTARYRugby Union

Waratahs and Brumbies players form a scrum during the Round 7 Super Rugby match between the ACT Brumbies and the Waratahs at GIO Stadium in Canberra, Friday, March 15, 2020. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

Stay cool in a crisis? In rugby, it’s a panic

A virus infected rugby union long ago. The response to its health owes more to supermarket panic than the urgent need for change.

Alan Jones

Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/author/alan-jones/page/8