French touch for old Eden Park goal posts
02 Dec 2010
Sculptures made out of old rugby goal posts from Eden Park in Auckland could become part of French / Kiwi rugby history if a symbolic ceremony planned during the Rugby World Cup 2011 goes ahead.
French rugby legend Franck Mesnel, who bought the Eden Park goal posts in a Trade Me online auction, plans to turn one set of posts into sculptures.
He wants to offer them to every player who competed in the 1987 World Cup final - when New Zealand beat France at Eden Park and won the inaugural Webb Ellis trophy.
Mesnel, who owns the Eden Park fashion empire in France, plans to present the slice of sporting history to 30 French and All Black players at a ceremony during RWC 2011 in New Zealand.
Christchurch earthquake
The Frenchman, who is a 56-cap former first-five, bought the goal posts for NZ$15,050 at an auction to raise funds for the Christchurch earthquake relief effort.
The 18m high 700kg posts have been cut in half to be shipped to France in the next few weeks.
But Mesnel says that although the posts are heading for Paris, his intention is for the main part to return to New Zealand.
"The idea will be to get the views of some artists in France and to bring a part of these posts back to offer them to different players who have been around since. The World Cup would be a great opportunity to bring everyone together.
"This is a story between [the company] Eden Park and New Zealand ... We were also proud to help out and do a little bit for the earthquake," he said.
All Black Grant Fox
Mesnel’s New Zealand friend and former All Black, Grant Fox - who scored more test points at Eden Park ground than any other player - said it was a magnificent gesture by Mesnel.
"For Franck to be able to get a piece of history means a lot to him," Fox said.
"The French are quite emotive and, as a team, they can get to a level of emotion that no other side in the world can reach.
"Sadly from an All Black point of view we have been on the receiving end of a few of those performances. It's the emotional side of things that led Franck to buy the posts. France and New Zealand, from a rugby point of view, are extremely close."
Grant Fox was part of the 1987 Rugby World Cup team as were fellow rugby greats John Kirwan, Michael Jones, David Kirk and Sean Fitzpatrick - all of whom have been appointed rugby ambassadors for next year’s Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.
French rugby
Mesnel says he plans to keep the other set of posts in his homeland. The 49-year-old, who played during the 1980s, is known for his flamboyance.
On occasions he wore a pink bow-tie and beret to matches, and once served his Racing Club de Paris team champagne at half time.
Mesnel took the flair into his business, where he oversees a team of 80 designers for a company with a turnover of $95 million. His Eden Park company uses the now famous pink bow tie as its logo.
He says he is now keen to expand his Eden Park empire into New Zealand.
More information
Rugby World Cup
Eden Park reopens
Iconic New Zealand rugby grounds
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