[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 150 (Wednesday, November 17, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1955-E1956]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING AND PAYING TRIBUTE TO THE LEGENDARY RUGBY PLAYER LA'AULI 
                           MICHAEL NIKO JONES

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA

                           of american samoa

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 17, 2010

  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and pay 
tribute to the legendary rugby player La'auli Michael Niko Jones. On 
Monday, I had the privilege to welcome Mr. Jones, his wife Maliena and 
son Levi to the U.S. Capitol. Known to his fans around the world as 
Iceman because of the calm and confident manner in which he played the 
game, but also because of the number of icepacks he needed for 
injuries, Jones was born in Auckland, New Zealand. He first entered the 
rugby scene in 1986 as a 20-year old and scored three tries in his 
debut for the Auckland provincial side against South Canterbury. His 
breakthrough performance at such a young age was a strong indicator of 
what lay in Jones' future. Being of Samoan descent on his maternal 
side, Jones played for Manu Samoa in his first international debut 
instead against Wales. Since then, his rugby career took off, leading 
him to become one of the greatest rugby players of all time.
  Jones first played for the New Zealand All Blacks in the inaugural 
World Cup in 1987 and scored the first try of the tournament. As an 
open side flanker, Jones was well known for powerfully running through 
the heart of the backline defense and then finding space to offload. 
With the ball in hand, he had the finesse and judgment of an inside or 
outside center. His bone crunching tackles on defense were feared by 
opponents. In a sport in which the individual must exhibit both 
defensive and offensive skills, Jones exemplified the complete rugby 
player.

[[Page E1956]]

  Despite the many accolades he received as a result of his on-field 
feats, Jones was well known for holding true to his religious beliefs 
and values. As a devout Christian, and in line with a promise he made 
to his dying father, Jones never played on Sunday. Staying firm in 
these convictions, however, sometimes brought criticism from the media 
and often created problems for the New Zealand Rugby Union. His 
unwavering beliefs under pressure stand as a testament to his 
commitment and sacrifice.
  Throughout his rugby career, Jones exemplified commitment, sacrifice, 
and love for education, religion, family and country both on and off 
the field. He holds a Bachelor of Planning (B. Plan), a Bachelor of 
Arts (B.A.) and a Master of Arts (M.A.) from the University of Auckland 
and in 1997 was honored by his university with a Distinguished Alumni 
Award. This past weekend, Jones was invited as a special guest to 
participate in the 14th Annual Ambassador's Shield Match Day, which 
features a rugby match pitting the New Zealand Ambassador's XV against 
a combined selection of professional U.S. rugby players in order to 
celebrate New Zealand culture and raise support for the rugby program 
at the Hyde Leadership Public Charter School in Washington, DC.

                          ____________________