An iconic shirt which has sold at auction for £240,000 has set a new world record for the most expensive rugby jersey of all time.
Cardiff auctioneers Rogers Jones & Co sold the shirt at auction in the Welsh capital on Friday afternoon.
The shirt – that needed “no introduction”, according to the auctioneer – was worn by former rugby union player Sir Gareth Edwards in the Barbarians’ match against the All Blacks in 1973.
Edwards finished off a spectacular seven-man move started by fellow Welshman Phil Bennett deep inside his own half during the Barbarians’ 23-11 victory over New Zealand in Cardiff 50 years ago.
Later in the move, an unforgettable rugby moment saw Edwards yelling “Twl e ‘ma” (Throw it here) to another Welsh Barbarian player, Derek Quinnell.
The auctioneer, Ben Rogers Jones, added that the jersey represents “the greatest try, the greatest commentary, possibly the greatest match, certainly the greatest player”.
“Certainly, the most iconic and famous rugby jersey to have come to auction, possibly the greatest and most iconic rugby jersey ever,” he added.
A collection of items owned by Edwards were up for sale at the auction but the Barbarians jersey was the star attraction.
The bidding started at £85,000, before the price escalated quickly.
Mr Rogers Jones told the room before the bidding: “A big thanks to the Edwards family who’ve been very supportive and for of course selecting us as the auctioneer to represent them.”
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The previous record sale for a rugby shirt was £180,000 for a New Zealand jersey worn by captain Dave Gallaher on their British tour in 1905-06, sold by the same auctioneers in 2015.
Other lots also sold for thousands at Friday’s auction. One of Edwards’ British and Irish Lions jerseys from the 1974 South Africa tour sold for £10,000.
A number of Wales shirts and jerseys – from when Edwards represented teams like a Combined England/Wales XV, East Wales and a President’s XV – were also included as lots in the sale.
Jerseys worn by other players also featured – including Gerald Davies’ 1971 Lions shirt worn in New Zealand (£10,500) and Sid Going’s 1969 All Blacks top against Wales (£6,000) and a New Zealand Barbarians jersey once filled by Sir Colin Meads (£3,000).
Outside of rugby, a collection of t-shirts worn by Edwards during the 1976 BBC Superstars programme were sold for £700.
