Former England chief Eddie Jones has lauded Australian rugby legend Mark Ella as “the Lionel Messi” of the sport. Jones, who served as England head coach for seven years, was a rising star at Sydney side Randwick when he first met the Ella brothers.
Twins Mark and Glen quickly made their mark on the international stage, with younger brother Gary later joining them. However, it was fly-half Mark whose magic touch truly stood out.
Speaking on the latest Stick to Rugby podcast (via Wales Online), Jones said: “And we had the two Ellas [at his first club, Randwick]. So you’ve got two blokes – probably one. Mark was like the Messi of the game. He was an incredible player.”
Ex-England skipper Lawrence Dallaglio then highlighted the Ellas’ significant role in shaping Australian rugby for years to come. Jones wholeheartedly agreed, adding: “100 per cent. And also changed a bit of the culture in Australian rugby. Because up until then it was very much an elitist sport, public school boys, not played by the working class.
“Then you get these two skinny, Aboriginal blokes come out of La Perouse, and they can play the game better than anyone else. And they changed the whole perception of the game in Australia.”
Ella – who was born as one of 12 siblings – earned 25 caps for the Wallabies, captaining the team 10 times. His impressive career included a memorable debut in the 1980 Bledisloe Cup series, where Australia secured their first three-Test series win over New Zealand since 1949.
Ella also made a lasting impact in the northern hemisphere during the 1984 Wallabies tour, helping the team secure four consecutive victories against Britain and Ireland. Jones, who played alongside Ella for Randwick and New South Wales, was well aware of his exceptional talent.
As the current Australian team strives for a resurgence under Joe Schmidt, they could draw inspiration from Ella’s innovative approach to the game. The Wallabies have already shown promise in recent months, with a remarkable win over England at Twickenham in the autumn – their first victory at the iconic stadium since 2015.
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