Mr Alan Jones AM AO

The most successful national coach in Australian rugby history, Alan Jones iced a spectacularly successful career when he guided the Wallabies on an unbeaten Grand Slam tour of Great Britain and Ireland in 1984.

He began in semi-professional rugby in 1982 as part-time manager of the NSW team before taking over as first-grade coach at Manly in ’83, leading them to the premiership for the first time in 32 years.

He coached the Wallabies from 1984-88, winning 102 matches in total and posting a 23-7 win/loss record at Test level, including four losses by a solitary point. In 1986 he masterminded an historic Bledisloe Cup victory in New Zealand - the first such victory in 39 years and the second over New Zealand by a visiting side.

A former school teacher, political aspirant and one-time speech writer for Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser, he was recruited by Sydney radio station 2UE in 1985 and quickly became one of the most influential figures in Australian media.

Also had a voluntary stint in the National Rugby League, coaching Balmain and serving as Director of Football at South Sydney. Was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 2004, partly for his service to the media and sports' administration, including a stint on the Australian Sports Commission, but also for helping many charities.