Michael Jones (rugby union)

Michael Jones

KNZM

Jones in 2017
Birth name	Michael Niko Jones
Date of birth	(1965-04-08) 8 April 1965 (age 59)
Place of birth	Auckland, New Zealand
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight	98 kg (216 lb)
School	Henderson High School
University	University of Auckland
Notable relative(s)	KJ Apa (nephew)
Occupation(s)	Rugby union footballer and coach
Rugby union career
Position(s) Flanker Number eight Provincial / State sides Years Team Apps (Points) 1985–99 Auckland 96 178 Super Rugby Years Team Apps (Points) 1996–99 Auckland Blues 35 35 International career Years Team Apps (Points) 1986 1987–98 Western Samoa New Zealand 1 55 (0) (56) Coaching career Years Team 2004–07 Samoa

Sir Michael Niko Jones KNZM (born 8 April 1965) is a New Zealand former rugby union player and coach.

Jones was a member of the Auckland team which dominated New Zealand rugby in the late 1980s and 1990s, and the Auckland Blues team which won the first two Super 12 championships, in 1996 and 1997.

He played once for Western Samoa, and 55 times for New Zealand, including winning the first Rugby World Cup in 1987. He was known for his Christian beliefs, which meant he chose not to play on Sundays. He was named by Rugby World magazine as the third best All Black of the 20th century after Colin Meads and Sean Fitzpatrick.^[1] John Hart, who first selected him for Auckland, called him "almost the perfect rugby player".

After retiring as a player, he served as coach of Samoa from 2004 to 2007. He was knighted in 2017 for services to the Pacific community and youth.