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1914 Australian Rugby League Jersey Maroon & Blue Hoops. Since…
Sale Title:
Auction House:
Auction Location:
Sydney
Date:
7-Jun-2012
Lot No.
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Description:
1914 Australian Rugby League Jersey Maroon & Blue Hoops. Since 1928 The Kangaroos have proudly sported the traditional green, with gold chevron. At the time of the birth of the code, however Australian sides, both Rugby League and Rugby Union were wearing maroon and sky blue – the colours of the two Rugby states NSW and QLD. This butcher’s stripe jersey design was worn on the original 1908-09 tour and this jersey is from the epic 1914 series. The 1914 Test match series in Australia was just the fourth between Australia and the British Lions. Australia was humiliated in the first Test 23-5 but bounced back to narrowly win the second 12-7 at the Sydney Cricket ground with Fraser and Frank Burge scoring and Wally Messenger kicking 3 goals. The deciding Third Test is now part of Rugby League Folklore…and referred to as The Rorke’ s Drift Test. In the quaint Edwardian tradition of epic adventure and against-the-odds victories (and sometimes tragedy), this match harks to the British win against insurmountable odds at Rorke’ s Drift in the Anglo-Zulu war of 1879. With the three Test series played within the space of a week the Lions entered the final Test match against the odds, with half a dozen players injured – while the Aussies were unchanged and buoyed by a win just 5 days before. Unbelievably the Lions lost three further players to injury during the match – and as replacements were not allowed they played the last 10 minutes with just 10 men but ran out winners 14 to 6. This is a rare example of the maroon & blue Test jersey. Assessment: The jersey is in excellent condition. The jersey has been professionally conserved by International Conversation Specialists, and has been mounted and framed. Sold; Wemyss Auction Important Sporting Memorabilia 26/9/1998 Lot 294
Estimate:
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Price:
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Category:
Unclassified