St Helen’s ArchivePreserving the past for the future

JY120

Jersey

Loan

Jeff Wheel

1974-1975

Jersey, Ireland, 1975. Green with white collar and Ireland 'Shamrock' badge on left breast. White No4 on back. Worn by Willie John Mcbride.

This is the jersey worn by Ireland lock and captain Willie John McBride against Wales at Cardiff Arms Park on 15th March 1975. After the match McBride and Geoff Wheel swapped jerseys, this one being in the possession of Geoff Wheel since then. Geoff Wheel had made his Wales debut against Ireland in Dublin in 1974, playing opposite McBride. That match (drawn 9 - 9) saw McBride equal ‘All Blacks’ Colin Meads’ then world record of 55 international caps. For that reason Willie John declined to swap jerseys with Wheel on the latter's international debut, retaining the milestone Ireland jersey. McBride captained the British & Irish Lions in the 'Invincible' tour of South Africa later that year. But the Irishman made amends to Wheel in 1975. This jersey is on loan to the collection thanks to Geoff Wheel. In Cardiff in 1975 Wales romped to a 32 - 4 win and another Championship. McBride made 63 appearances for Ireland between 1962 and 1975 and toured five times with the 'Lions' between 1962 and 1974.

1974-1975, Willie John McBridge, geoff Wheel, Ireland