Michael Jones’ statue

2011

Michael Jones scored the first try at the first ever Rugby World Cup. This was photographed by Geoff Dale. His sculptress daughter Natalie Stamilla was commissioned by the NZRFU to create a bronze statue that was later erected at Eden Park that was 1 ½ times the life-size image and 1 ½ tonnes. Difficulties encountered during design was the single support at one end of the statue so that the stainless steel armature which goes through Michael’s wrist into the ball had to be made from high-strength ductile stainless steel welded to hollow stainless tubes within the body. The prospect of half a dozen burly forwards hanging off the statue for photo opportunities meant Mike Lake had to hold the line when the artist requested to make the wrists smaller.