Weta unveils Wellington Rugby statue

As people in the Rugby playing nations of the World are well aware, 2011 sees the Rugby World Cup played in New Zealand.

To celebrate this in Wellington, the city council has commissioned a statue from Weta.

The impressive statue will take its rightful place in Wellington's Civic Square in July.

Wellington mayor Celia Wade-Brown, Wellington councillors and guests attended the unveiling at Weta Workshop.

Wellington All-Black Victor Vito who was one of three Hurricanes players who helped pose for the sculpture was also in Weta's studio for the reveal.

The bronze and concrete sculpture was created by Richard Taylor and a team of 35 people who have spent more than a year designing, sculpting and casting.

The scene is a stylized line-out, a Rugby set piece that serves to put the ball back in play after it leaves the field via the sideline. The players from the two opposing teams struggling to take control of the ball.

There is also symbolism from Wellington's geographical position where the Tasman Sea and Pacific Ocean meet in Cook Strait.

"This has been quite a technical and artistic challenge for us," Richard Taylor said.

"I wanted to try and capture a moment in the game that I feel is the primary moment, where you celebrate the pursuit of the ball by two teams. It's an incredibly heroic moment, and the chap that gets the ball almost takes on a superman quality."