RUGBY STUFF

RUGBY STUFF

Rugby Union has a history quite unlike any other sport. It also has an anecdotal history not found elsewhere, but since the shackles of amateurism were thrown away following the 1995 World Cup, the image of overweight beer-drinking players singing dirty songs has largely gone the sport.

RUGBY STUFF

So what rugby memorabilia is most popular? Predominantly the match programme. This is similar to other sports, but rugby has an additional element rarely found in sports other than cricket — the tour. Thus rugby programme collectors focus on international and tour programmes rather than club programmes; effectively the reverse of soccer.

RUGBY STUFF

This produces some bizarre events. Old club programmes involving less popular sides are sometimes of little interest. For example, a programme from a 1920s game between two 'Old Boys' clubs may raise only £2 — £3 because there aren't any collectors of those clubs. Whilst one from, a South Africa tour of the UK, may attract £50 or more.

RUGBY STUFF

The oldest known programme is the 1873 Scotland v England International. The programme is held at the Museum of Rugby at Twickenham. Programmes of this vintage are extremely rare and attract huge sums. The 1879 Scotland v England programme raised an extraordinary £6,500 although the value was inflated because it was from the first Calcutta Cup game.

RUGBY STUFF

Undoubtedly, the 'Penny Black' of rugby programmes is from the first Wales v New Zealand match. It was a seminal moment for rugby when New Zealand toured during the 1905/06 season.The All Blacks (name of the New Zealand team) won 35 of their 36 matches and at a time when 6-3 was a typical score, they scored 1,022 points in the process. The one game they lost was to Wales, 3-0, and it is a match which has been talked about ever since. The programme is very rare, but one fetched a hammer price of £3,500 at auction in October 2003.






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