St Helen’s ArchivePreserving the past for the future

JY085

Jersey

CIC

NZ Rugby museum

1905-1906

Jersey, New Zealand 1905. Replica. Black with white collar and white fern leaf on left breast.

This is an exact replica of a New Zealand rugby jerset from the 1905-06 'All Blacks' tour to Britain, France and North America. It was manufactured as part of a replica project overseen by the NZRFU by two manufacturers in Manawatu, New Zealand who is still in operation: Manawatu Knitting Mills and Robert Embroiderers in Parlmerston North. The jersey was made on the same old looms used at the start of the 20th century and used to make the original 'All Blacks' jerseys. The original pattern for the fern leaf had also survived, so the motif was copied exactly, by hand. The replica 1905 jersey was purchased by Swansea RFC in September or October 2013 to replace an original 1905 jersey that had found its way via Tycroes RFC to the WRU (Principality Stadium), where it is now on display. The replica, of which just 3 are known to have been produced, was paid for by the All Whites Former Players' Association in 2013.

jersey, all blacks, new Zealand, 1905,