1995 All Blacks 'Victory' Statue Sells After 31 Years

Sometimes the best stories come from celebrating wins before they happen, then learning to laugh about it decades later.

In 1995, artist Maeve Allen was commissioned to create a victory statue before the Rugby World Cup final between New Zealand's All Blacks and South Africa. The plan was simple: make 100 copies after New Zealand won, sell them to sponsors and players, and commemorate a historic moment.

South Africa won 15-12 instead. The celebration statues never happened.

Only four of the 63cm tall figurines had been completed before the match. Each showed an All Blacks player holding a 24-karat gold Webb Ellis Cup, boots planted on a map of South Africa. The base confidently read: "Rugby World Champions South Africa 1995."

After the loss, the remaining 96 statues were never made. The mould was destroyed to prevent anyone from replicating the awkward momento. The four existing pieces were quietly sold or stored away, becoming one of sports memorabilia's most unusual collector's items.

One of these rare statues just sold on Trade Me, a New Zealand auction site, listed with a starting price of $12,000. The auction included a custom storage box and certificate of authenticity. By 7pm on Friday, it had found a buyer willing to own a piece of premature celebration.

Sunny's Take

What makes this story special isn't the loss. It's how New Zealanders can look back 31 years later and appreciate the humor in their overconfidence. The statue represents something deeply human: our ability to laugh at ourselves.

That 1995 match was historic beyond the score. It marked South Africa's return to major sports after apartheid ended, with Nelson Mandela presenting the trophy. The game mattered more than any statue ever could.

The fact that someone cherished this "mistake" for three decades, then found a buyer who wanted it just as much, shows how our most embarrassing moments sometimes become our most treasured stories.