USO Lakapi

Together, we can turn the power of sport into hope, support, and a stronger future for our people. 🩵 Acknowledging Moata'a Rugby Club for choosing
Samoa Cancer Society as the beneficiary charity for the upcoming Moata'a Sevens
Tournament, to be held on 4th and 5th September 2026. One team. One community. One fight against cancer.

⭐️ BINGO Fundraising for Moata’a Rugby Club

🏳️ O le a faia le sa’iligāseleni o ta’aloga BINGO i le asō i le 1:00 i le Aoauli nei. E faia i le Club House i le Malae Ta’alo a le Kalāpu. Afio mai ma tala mai a’ao tatou mafuta ai.

🔘 Manuia le ta’aloga fa’apea fa’amoemoega uma o lenei a*o

Michael Jones, widely celebrated as “The Iceman,” is remembered as one of the greatest and most influential flankers in rugby history, a player who combined explosive athleticism with exceptional intelligence and unwavering personal principles, leaving an enduring legacy in New Zealand rugby through the 1980s and 1990s. Born in Auckland in 1965 and of Samoan heritage, he rose through the ranks with remarkable speed, shining for Auckland and Western Samoa before earning selection for the All Blacks, where he made his Test debut in 1987. That same year, he became a global star during the inaugural Rugby World Cup, scoring the very first try of the tournament and playing a critical role in New Zealand’s dominant title campaign. Jones was admired not only for his ferocious work rate and unrivaled versatility around the field—he could carry the ball powerfully, support play creatively, and defend with precision—but also for his composure and grace under pressure, which perfectly matched his nickname. His deep Christian faith was central to his character; his decision not to play on Sundays was a defining part of his identity and demonstrated how strongly he valued his beliefs, even when it meant missing significant matches. Injuries unfortunately limited parts of his career, including serious knee setbacks, yet even with those challenges he accumulated dozens of Test caps and continued to be selected because coaches and teammates recognized his irreplaceable impact whenever he stepped onto the field. He featured again at the 1991 Rugby World Cup and was part of the All Blacks setup into the mid-1990s, during a period when the professional era of rugby was emerging, and he stood as a symbol of discipline, humility, and excellence amid change. After retiring as a player, Jones remained deeply involved in rugby and his community, serving as a mentor, coach, and leader, including coaching roles with the Samoan national team, where he helped inspire Pacific Island talent and provided guidance rooted in both cultural pride and high-performance standards. Beyond rugby, he has been recognized for his contributions to society and sport with honors such as a knighthood, reflecting his broader influence as a role model, advocate for youth, and respected voice in New Zealand. Today, Michael Jones is remembered not simply as a dominant flanker, but as a truly complete figure in the sport—a gentleman with immense competitive spirit, a trailblazer for Pacific players, and a legend whose blend of skill, heart, and integrity continues to inspire rugby fans and athletes around the world.

They still talk about the way Michael Jones moved — the grace of a dancer wrapped in the power of a forward. In New Zealand rugby, he wasn’t just a player; he was a standard. Born in Auckland in 1965 to Samoan heritage, Jones emerged from the grassroots of West Auckland rugby to become one of the most admired All Blacks of his era, a flanker whose combination of speed, skill, and intelligence redefined what the position could be. His rise wasn’t built on hype but on relentless performance, first catching attention with Auckland in the National Provincial Championship, then dazzling for Samoa in the inaugural 1987 Rugby World Cup warm-up matches before pulling on the iconic black jersey. That same year, in his very first World Cup game, Jones scored the tournament’s opening try, a moment that announced his arrival to the world.

Jones’ All Blacks career would stretch from 1987 to 1998, marked by 55 test matches — and even more remarkable, never a single yellow or red card. He was a clean, principled player in a game often built on bruising collisions. His tackling was fearless yet precise, his running lines instinctive, his ability to link play almost unmatched in his time. But Jones’ career was also shaped by conviction. As a devout Christian, he famously refused to play on Sundays, a decision that cost him appearances in both the 1991 and 1995 Rugby World Cups, yet earned him deep respect for standing by his beliefs.

Injuries tested him too. A serious knee injury in 1989 could have ended his career, but Jones came back stronger, evolving his game to remain a force even as the sport shifted into the professional era. His influence extended beyond the scoreboard — younger players spoke of his leadership, humility, and the quiet way he lifted a team’s standards. Opponents described him as “the hardest man to tackle” and “the fairest man you’d meet after the game.”

By the time he retired from international rugby in 1998, Jones had become more than a great flanker; he was a symbol of discipline, respect, and the blending of athletic excellence with moral integrity. In 2003, he was inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame, his name permanently etched into the sport’s history. Yet ask those who played alongside him, and they’ll tell you his greatest legacy isn’t just the trophies or tries — it’s the way he carried himself, proof that you can dominate at the highest level without compromising who you are. For the All Blacks, and for rugby fans worldwide, Michael Jones remains a reminder that greatness is measured not only in victories, but in values.

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