St Helen’s ArchivePreserving the past for the future

JY084

Jersey

CIC

Rowe Harding

1924-1925

Jersey, New Zealand 1924, black with white collar. Cross stitching on shoulders. Evidence of former rectangle on back with number, but now missing.

This ‘All Blacks’ jersey is from their ‘Invincible’ tour of Britain , Ireland, France and Canada in 1924-25. They won all 32 matches, including 4 international test matches. This jersey was presented to ‘All Whites’ wing Rowe Harding, who played for Wales in their 19 - 0 loss to the tourists at St Helen's and also for Cambridge University who held the 'All Blacks' to their lowest winning score of the tour: a converted try to nil (5 - 0). Rowe Harding was unavailable due to his studies for Swansea when the New Zealanders played them at St Helen’s in front of a crowd of 45,000 on 27 September 1924, the tourists winning by 39 pts to 3pts. This jersey was given to Rowe Harding either after Cambridge's brave efforts or Wales' defeat to the 'Invincible All Blacks' of 1924-25. There is stitching remaining on the back, illustrating that a white cloth rectangle with a black number had at one time been affixed to the jersey.

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