Burgess 1972 All Blacks’ jersey sells for stg3200

Bob Burgess’s 1972 All Blacks’ jersey sells for stg3200 at London auction

The jersey worn by Bob Burgess in the famous 1972 All Blacks-Wales match at Cardiff Arms Park in 1972 sold at auction in London yesterday for what is believed to be a record stg3200 for an NZ No.10 jersey. The jersey was auctioned at Sotheby’s, in association with Graham Budd Auctions. Burgess played 23 times for the All Blacks including seven tests. He played against the Lions in 1971 and toured with the All Blacks on the 1972-73 tour.

Burgess swapped his jersey with his opposite Phil Bennett after the December 2 game, won by New Zealand 19-16. The match will be remembered for All Blacks’ manager Ernie Todd sending home prop Keith Murdoch the next day after an incident in the Angel Hotel in Cardiff overnight.

Graham Budd said he understood the Burgess jersey sale was probably a record for an All Black No.10 jersey. Interest in its sale soared because of the upcoming Lions tour to New Zealand, he said.

Former All Black Frank Oliver’s white No.19 World XV team substitute's shirt for a match against South Africa in 1979 sold for 170stg.

Another lot with a fully-signed Barbarians v New Zealand match programme, from the Cardiff game in 1978, sold with a postcard depicting QEII Park in Christchurch, and other autographs and programmes went for stg400.

An autograph book, including signatures of the 1949 New Zealand cricketers in England, in another lot made stg700.

A Wales v All Blacks from the 1924 tour game at St Helen Field in Swansea went for stg180.

The jersey of French referee Georges Domercq, who controlled the great Barbarians v New Zealand game in Cardiff on January 27, 1973 made stg100.

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