According to Jones, efforts should be concentrated on domestic glory rather than international tournaments. His vision includes dismantling the Nations Championship and rekindling the historic Anglo-Welsh rivalry by introducing a 12-team Premiership featuring 10 English teams and two Welsh teams. The remaining Welsh teams would initially play in an Anglo-Welsh Championship.
With a firm stance against the integration of South African teams in the northern hemisphere’s leagues, Jones expressed his unfiltered view on the matter. "Let South Africa be South Africans. Goodbye," he declared, criticizing the decision to include South Africa in both the URC and major European competitions as "the most idiotic idea in professional rugby."
“I may not have been much good at geography but I remember that South Africa is not in Europe.”
His critiques didn’t stop there. Jones highlighted the unpopularity of these tournaments among the South African players and coaches, as well as competitors from other nations, citing "preposterous travelling, unfocused rivalries, and weakened sides being fielded for away games."
Instead, Jones advocates for a return to a locally focused rugby schedule. "Away flights would be a maximum of two hours, there would be local derbies, and South Africa now has around four players of Test quality in every position," he noted. He predicted a rush of talent returning to a reinvigorated Currie Cup.
“They would flood back to the Currie Cup, or whatever you want to call it.”
Furthermore, Jones was equally critical of another emerging idea in the rugby circuit—a World Club Championship. Dismissing it outright, he wrote, "No! Gibberish. Stop adding matches invented by bad marketing people."
In conclusion, Jones’s views stir up a provocative debate on the future direction of professional rugby, particularly regarding the involvement of South African teams in European competitions. His radical proposals highlight the need for a discussion on optimizing the sport’s structure for the benefit of all participating nations.
