TYCROES Rugby Club were overjoyed to receive an exact replica of their treasured New Zealand jersey worn by The Originals touring side that lost to Wales in 1905.
After hearing the club’s plight, John Hughes, owner of the Manawatu Knitting Mill – the manufacturer of the original 107-year-old shirts – combined forces with Robertina Downes, senior fashion tutor at Massey University in Wellington, and produced a limited run of ten shirts exact in every detail to the 1905 shirt down to using the same looms and the same embroidery company.
In addition to Tycroes RFC, New Zealand Rugby Museum and Twickenham Museum of World Rugby also have copies.
Robertina, who made the journey to Wales to present the club with their gift, said: “We were distressed to hear the club were considering selling this treasure.
“I’ve been to see it at the Millennium Stadium Museum and it really is in excellent condition and one of the best preserved examples I’ve seen.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here