Alan Jones is hoping to provide entertaining rugby when he comes out of retirement to coach the Barbarians against Australia.

The 76-year-old was in charge of the Wallabies between 1984 and 1987 but has been mainly seen behind the microphone in recent years, while also forging a television career and appearing in the musical Annie in Sydney.

However, he will tread the grass and not the boards later this year after accepting an invitation to lead the men in black and white against his old side.

Jones coached the Aussies to a Grand Slam against the home nations in 1984 while also enjoying Bledisloe Cup success two years later but will be in the opposite camp on October 28 at Allianz Stadium on October 28 and hopes that it is a decent spectacle for all who watch.

"We don't want the public coming in the gate for something that is going to be a hit and giggle," he told News Corp Australia. "We are going to invite players to play and we want them to understand from our point of view and the tradition of the Barbarians, it is a very significant game."