|
 |   |
|
EVENTS Fantasy Central Inside Game Multimedia Central Statitudes Your Turn Message Boards Email Newsletters Golf Guide Cities Work in Sports
CNNSI.com GROUP
COMMERCE |
Quitting time Former All Black to retire at end of season
Posted: Monday October 18, 1999 04:43 PM
AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) -- Former New Zealand flanker Michael Jones, a veteran of 55 test matches for the All Blacks, will retire from rugby at the end of the domestic season to spend more time with his family. Jones was honored Saturday by the Auckland Rugby Union, for whom he played 96 matches. If Auckland makes the finals of this year's domestic competition he will have played 98 games for the province. Auckland beat Counties-Manukau 50-15 in their final round-robin game with Jones completing the day with a conversion kick of Auckland's seventh try of the day. Jones, who played his tests between 1987 and 1998, has been on a New Zealand Rugby Football Union contract which expires at the end of this season. He said the highlight of his career was New Zealand's victory in the 1987 World Cup -- the final was played at his home ground of Eden Park and in front of his family, friends and Auckland fans who have supported him since he made his Auckland debut in 1985. The 34-year-old said he wanted to be able to have time to spend with his daughter Tiare-Maina Jones. "You can't play with children if you're in a wheelchair or a walker," he said. "I made up my mind when I was driving to a team meeting on Tuesday, my mind was in turmoil because the likes of Eroni Clarke said I was good enough to play another season. "But I'd rather go out this year than when people tell you that you should."
| |||||||||||||||||||||
