Project

Michael Jones Statue - Eden Park

Project description

Sir Michael Jones scored the first try at the first ever Rugby World Cup in 1987 against Italy at Eden Park, New Zealand. This was photographed by Geoff Dale. His sculptress daughter Natalie Stamilla was commissioned by the New Zealand Rugby Football Union (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 rugby 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 from a local Super Rugby team hanging off the statue for photo opportunities meant Abacus Engineering Principal Mike Lake had to hold the line when the artist requested to make the wrists smaller.

As of 2026, the statue which was up for sale for a brief amount of time, has now been bought by Eden Park with the help of sponsoring partner Coca-Cola and will continue to remain at Eden Park.

Last updated on 22-06-2026