Rugby: Chance to pay tribute to the Iceman

By Chris Rattue

Michael Jones, the legendary loose forward, is still deciding whether he will retire this season - but Auckland rugby has organised a tribute day to him anyway.

The 34-year-old Jones, regarded by many as the finest athlete rugby has seen, conceded last night that for the first time in his career he is seriously considering retirement.

The Auckland union has turned Saturday's NPC clash against Counties Manukau at Eden Park into a tribute day to Jones, whose 55-test international career ended last year.

Jones said he had been humbled by the gesture but was still weighing up his options in life with his family. His decision would not be affected by whether he won a Super 12 contract or not.

"Today I might be thinking one way and tomorrow I will think the other. That is the turmoil you feel when you have to make such a big decision in your life," Jones said.

"I've got a young daughter now, and I still have to keep talking to the people who mean so much in my life.

"But suffice to say that when I finally make the decision, we will know it is the right one.

"This is the first time I have seriously thought about retiring, even though there has been some pressure on me in the past.

"With all the injuries I've had there has been some criticism [about continuing to play] but also concern.

"I'm thankful I didn't bow to that pressure and followed what I felt in my heart - that is important when you have such a passion for the game. It wasn't the right time then.

"I feel honoured and humble about Auckland's gesture [on Saturday] and I also know that there are a lot of players in the past who deserved that who did not get the opportunity.

"It is great that I can say thank you to the people who have supported me over the past 15 seasons."

Jones said he was also delighted at being part of a side who had helped to restore the union's status during this year's NPC.

"There is a great mix of the young and old in this team and Wayne Pivac and Foxy [Grant Fox] have done a great job as coaches," he said.

"It means at least I've been part of one season where we have built the team back up - to help to resurrect Auckland rugby after we went walkabout for the last couple of seasons."

Jones said his wife, Maliena, had not placed any pressure on him about retiring or not. The arrival of his daughter, Tiare Maina (Maina is his late mother's name), would play a big part in his decision.

"I will make the decision soon, but I can't tell you when," he said.

The Auckland union has designed a special playing jersey to honour Jones. For Saturday's match, the Auckland team will wear the traditional Auckland blue-and-white hooped jersey, with the union's crest replacing the modern "A" on the chest. The back of every player's jersey will have a No 6 above their own playing number.

Jones made his name as an openside flanker wearing No 7, and the union suggested that be used as his tribute number. But Jones said he would prefer the No 6 because it represented his current position on the blindside, and he did not want to confuse the situation.

Jones said: "A lot of the younger kids know me as a No 6 now anyway. I've played in six seven and eight. I'm in six now, and that's my position in this team. I'm not one to dwell on the past or get too nostalgic."

The other tributes will include.-

* 1006 Jones face masks to be distributed among spectators.

* Junior teams from Jones' Waitemata club will play curtainraisers.

* Six Warbird planes will fly overhead.

* A 50-strong choir from Jones' church will sing before the match, and the union is arranging for Samoan cultural groups to appear.

* Footage of Jones' great moments on the field will be played on Eden Park's giant screen.

Auckland considered paying tribute to the great forward during the playoffs, but Jones told the union he did not want to take attention away from the team's attempt to regain the NPC title.

"Michael was quite overwhelmed about the attention and said 'don't go to too much bother'," a spokeswoman said.

"But we don't want to miss the opportunity to pay tribute to him and the public will want the chance to say thanks for everything and what you have done for sport.

"There is a chance he may decide to retire over summer which meant we would not have the opportunity, so we want to do it now."