Rugby Pioneers

Forming part of the Charlie Pritchard Rugby Auction on December 7th, there are three amazing jerseys from the first three tours to Northern Hemisphere by the Southern Hemisphere 'colonialists'. 1905 saw the incredible, almost all-conquering Original All Blacks visit Britain and France, then in 1906 came the South Africans, calling themselves the Springboks for the first time. Then in 1908 came the Wallabies!

Lot 1

A 1905 NEW ZEALAND INTERNATIONAL ALL BLACKS RUGBY UNION JERSEY MATCH-WORN BY LOOSE FORWARD FRANCIS TURNBULL GLASGOW (1880-1939) The most iconic of all historic rugby union jerseys characterized by the quilted overlay to shoulders, leather neckline with believed original lace, large embroidered ‘silver fern’ and stitched 'hidden' ‘M’ to hem, unique to the 1905 All Blacks jerseys and believed to stand for 'Mary' (Mary Stubbs and her husband John founded J Stubbs, Hosiery Manufacturer, later to be known as the Manawatu Knitting Mills). The back of the jersey stitched with white canvas square bearing printed No.7. Believed to be the first time that an ‘Originals’ jersey has appeared at auction with the playing number remaining on the back

£20,000-40,000

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Lot 2

A RARE 1906 SOUTH AFRICA INTERNATIONAL SPRINGBOK RUGBY UNION MATCH-WORN JERSEY In moss-green cotton with white collars, three original buttons, bears shield shaped crest in black felt with embroidered leaping Springbok, interior label for George Lewin.

£7000-10000

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Lot 3

A 1908 AUSTRALIA RUGBY UNION JERSEY MATCH-WORN DURING THE WALLABIES INAUGURAL NORTHERN HEMISPHERE TOUR & AS 1908 OLYMPIC WINNERS Pale blue with white collar and three buttons, bears embroidered stem of waratah flower above embroidered ‘AUSTRALIA’ which was a distinctive addition to the jersey to indicate the national representative side, interior label for J Pearson, Sydney.

£6000-9000

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This formidable front row of jerseys is part of the Charlie Pritchard auction being offered for auction with us in Cardiff on December 7th. More details on the catalogue page.