St Helen’s ArchivePreserving the past for the future

JY087

Jersey

CIC

W R Collins

1935-1936

Jersey, New Zealand, 1935. Black with white collar and fern leaf motif on left breast. White number '23' on a black patch on the back.

This is the jersey worn by ‘All Blacks’ lock William Reuben Collins in the 11 - 3 defeat by Swansea at St Helen’s on 28 September 1935. Swansea became the first EVER club to defeat the ‘All Blacks’. At 100kg & 1.88m, Bill Collins was the heaviest and one of the tallest players in the New Zealand squad. The giant from Hawke’s Bay played 7 matches before injury and heart strain ended his tour and shortly afterwards, his career. It was kindly gifted to Swansea RFC by W R Collins after the match.

all blacks, jersey, 1935,