AN IRISH rugby jersey from 1899 – the oldest known international rugby jersey in the world – is about to go on auction.
Once a vibrant green, the 116-year-old jersey has long since faded into a cream colour, but the Irish shamrock crest remains distinctive.
Carefully handwritten on the jersey’s Lynch of Dublin label is the name “W.G. Byron”.
William ‘Billy’ Grant Byron was a native of Castlerock in Co. Derry – and notched up 11 caps for the Ireland international rugby team.
Born in 1876, Byron died aged 85 in 1961 – some 62 years after last donning this jersey.
He last wore it for Ireland’s Triple Crown win in 1899, where he was on the team that beat Wales 3-0 in the Home Nations Championship, as it was then known.
The jersey is expected to fetch up to £30,000 when it goes up for auction at Freemasons Hall in Dublin.
But this is just a fraction of the £180,000 paid for a rugby jersey earlier this year – which also had an Irish connection.
Irish-born All Blacks captain David Gallagher’s jersey was last worn in 1905 on the New Zealand team’s tour of Britain.
Would-be buyers of Byron’s jersey can submit a bid online ahead of the official auction on December 11.
Billy Byron (second from left) wearing the jersey after Ireland's 1899 win.