1905 All Blacks Jersey Smashes World Record

The jersey of New Zealand captain Dave Gallaher from their legendary 1905 test against Wales smashed the world record price for a rugby shirt,

The black shirt, embroidered with a silver fern, sold to a British buyer for £180,000 at an auction in Cardiff, a spokeswoman for auctioneers Rogers Jones and Co said.

The previous world record stood at £22,000.

Gallaher’s jersey from the 3-0 defeat to Wales had been expected to fetch between £20,000 and £40,000.

The game was New Zealand’s only loss on a 35-match tour, their first outside Australasia, during which the All Blacks nickname took off, hence the Original All Blacks moniker for the side.

The encounter in Cardiff is still considered one of the sport’s great matches.

It is also thought to have been the first time a national anthem was sung before a sporting fixture, as Welsh fans tried to counter the psychological effect of New Zealand’s Haka war dance.