Kiwi rugby star ambassadors for 2011 RWC
16 Jun 2010
Six of the best-known names in Kiwi rugby will act as ambassadors for New Zealand during Rugby World Cup 2011.
Jonah Lomu, Sean Fitzpatrick, John Kirwan, David Kirk, Andrew Mehrtens and Michael Jones are donating their time and profiles to help encourage volunteers, attract tourists, build business relationships and showcase New Zealand’s attributes.
Enlisted on the ‘500-days-to-go’ anniversary, the ambassadors have already added profile to aspects of the RWC build-up - including overseas promotion and the bid to recruit volunteers.
Volunteers ambassador
Former All Blacks No 8, Michael Jones has been appointed 'Volunteers Ambassador', and is heading the recruitment drive to enlist 5000 volunteers to help run RWC 2011.
Michael Jones - a member of the 1987 World Cup-winning All Blacks side, and former coach of Manu Samoa - said the appointment was a great honour.
"I accepted this role because I want to encourage New Zealanders to see for themselves the value of volunteering, and I hope the experience inspires many to carry on volunteering in the community," Jones said.
Prime Minister John Key said Jones was the perfect person to inspire people to put their hands up.
About 85,000 overseas visitors are expected during the tournament and Mr Key said New Zealand might never again host such a major sporting event.
New Zealand promotion
Lomu, Fitzpatrick and Kirwan are currently working with the NZ 2011 Office and government agencies overseas to promote New Zealand as a great place to visit and do business.
They have already attended events in France, Italy and Hong Kong, and held talks with business executives and industry leaders.
Rugby World Cup Minister Murray McCully said a full programme of events had been developed, including a major promotional effort with David Kirk in Australia on the eve of the September 2010 Bledisloe Cup match - to coincide with the "one year to go" mark.
"Australia will provide the most visitors during the Rugby World Cup, and we have an opportunity to promote New Zealand from a tourism and business perspective in that important market," McCully said.
"As the only All Blacks captain to have held the Webb Ellis trophy aloft, David Kirk will bring something special to our promotional efforts in Australia where he also has a strong business profile."
New Zealand rugby greats
Each of the Rugby World Cup 2011 ambassadors has a strong international reputation, and has made their mark in New Zealand rugby history:
- Jonah Lomu - with 63 caps as an All Black and a reputation as one of rugby’s most intimidating players - is widely regarded as the first true global superstar of rugby.
New Zealand's youngest-ever All Black, Lomu is officially the Rugby World Cup all-time top try scorer with 15 tries. During the 1995 World Cup, Lomu scored seven tries in five matches. In top physical condition he could run 100m in 11 seconds.
In 2007 Lomu was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, and was inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame.
- Sean Fitzpatrick - All Blacks captain from 1992 until he retired from test rugby in 1998 - is one of the finest New Zealand rugby players of all time.
Fitzpatrick was known for durability, competitiveness and his role in making the hooker a dynamic cross between a tight and loose forward.
Fitzpatrick was considered an inspiring leader and played a record 92 tests for the All Blacks - 51 as captain, also a New Zealand record.
- John Kirwan was just 18 when he was plucked from the Auckland Marist side to play first division.
At nearly 1.90m and strongly built, Kirwan was unusually tall for a wing and coupled with his considerable pace, determination and maturity made a major impression.
In 1992 Kirwan became the first All Black to reach the 50-test mark, and when he finished with the All Blacks in 1994 his 63 tests had brought him 35 tries, a New Zealand record at that time.
- David Kirk graduated from the University of Otago with a medical degree and stood out as "urbane, articulate and thoughtful" in the rugby world.
Kirk first toured with the All Blacks in 1983, and played 17 tests (11 as captain) scoring 24 test points.
David Kirk is best known for leading the All Blacks to victory over France in the 1987 Rugby World Cup. That year he was awarded the MBE for services to rugby, and then retired at 26 to take up a Rhodes Scholarship at Oxford University.
- Andrew Mehrtens won wide popularity and affection during his 12-year career at first class level, and was known for immense kicking skills, vision and long passes.
Canterbury-born Mehrtens is currently the second all-time highest points scorer for New Zealand, with 967 points.
He played 281 first class games scoring 3,178 points - 108 games for Canterbury with 1,056 points, 87 for the Crusaders and 981 points, 72 games for the All Blacks and 967 points in 70 tests.
Mehrtens played 72 matches as captain of the All Blacks, and his test aggregate is still a New Zealand record.
- Michael Jones - flanker and number eight - was nicknamed "the Iceman" because of his cool but confident playing manner and the number of icepacks he needed for injuries.
Rugby World magazine voted Michael Jones as the third best All Black of the 20th century - after Colin Meads and Sean Fitzpatrick.
Jones played 55 international games, even though he refused to play on Sundays for religious reasons.
He captained the Auckland Blues through a winning streak in the late 1980s / 90s, and in 2004 was appointed national coach of Samoa.
Jones, who graduated from Auckland University with three degrees, is considered a positive role model, particularly for Pacific Island youth in New Zealand.
More information
Andrew Mehrtens profile
David Kirk profile
John Kirwan profile
Jonah Lomu profile
Michael Jones profile
Sean Fitzpatrick profile
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