St Helen’s ArchivePreserving the past for the future

JY086

Jersey

CIC

Charlie Saxton

1945-1946

Jersey NZEF 1945. Black with white collar and black cloth patch with "NZEF" and silver fern motif on left breast. White cloth rectangle with black number '3' on back.

This rugby jersey belonged to Pte. J B Smith of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force Rugby Team 1945-6. It was presented to Swansea RFC by Mr Charlie Saxton (captain of team). known as the ‘Kiwis’, the NZEF rugby team toured Britain and Europe in 1945-46 at the end of WW II and were acclaimed for the open, adventurous style of football played. They played Swansea at St Helens on 27 October 1945 winning by 22 pts to 6 pts in a game more characteristic of a Barbarians fixture. Popularly known as the "Kiwis", the New Zealand Expeditionary Force rugby team became one of the most influential and significant teams in rugby history. Their contribution to rugby lore was twofold: they resuscitated international rugby after World War II and they played a brand of rugby that set new standards of innovation and entertainment, in much the same way as the 1905 Original All Blacks had. However the Kiwis were not All Blacks - they were soldiers and were selected after active service in North Africa and Italy and, in some cases, after lengthy spells in prisoner of war camps in Italy, Austria and Germany. Charlie Saxton, the 1938 New Zealand half-back and the only All Black among them, was chosen as captain. But such was the quality of their play, 15 of the team of 29 later played for the All Blacks. The tour was organised by General Bernard Freyberg with the Kiwis playing 33 matches in Europe, winning 29 and with two draws and two losses. They scored a formidable 605 points and conceded only 185. They beat the full international sides of England, Wales and France and lost just one international, to Scotland. This jersey was presented to Swansea RFC by the NZEF Rugby Team captain C K ("Charlie") Saxton (Timaru HSOB, S. Canterbury, NZ & NZEF 1945-46).

kiwis, new Zealand, Charlie saxton, 1945,