Arts Council England awards ‘designated status’ to World Rugby Museum Collection
The World Rugby Museum, which is located at Allianz Stadium, has achieved national recognition for the quality and importance of its collection.
"This accolade demonstrates that the museum's collection is a cultural asset of global significance and something that the entire global rugby community can be proud of."
World Rugby Museum curator Phil McGowan
Designated Status
Designated status is reserved for collections of "outstanding national and international importance" and Arts Council England have now judged that the World Rugby Museum's collection meets this criteria.
The World Rugby Museum collection dates back to the founding of the game in 1871, when rugby football was one of a number of competing football codes and the first to arrange competitive international competition.
Jersey's, Calcutta Cup and developing sport
Highlights of the collection include an England jersey worn in the very first international match between England and Scotland which, by virtue of its uniqueness, is the oldest international football jersey of any code in the world.
Likewise the Calcutta Cup, is the oldest international football trophy of any code in the world. These timeless national assets reflect rugby football's role in creating and developing modern international sporting infrastructure in Victorian Britain.
Nations around the world
In 2008, the museum became the World Rugby Museum to reflect the development of the collection, which now included material from rugby playing nations around the world, including a 1905 New Zealand jersey, iconic 1906 South Africa Blazer and 1911 France jersey.
Since then the museum has been fortunate enough to receive donations from iconic former players from all over the world, including JPR Williams, Mike Gibson, Sarah Hunter and Libby Andrew.
"We use jerseys and caps to share the stories of those who wore them and the historical moments they lived through, such as the rise and decline of the British Empire, the impact of two world wars, and the industrialisation of Britain," said Collections Officer and Project Lead Niamh Field.
"Our archive can be used to map changing attitudes to class and gender, and to explore relationships between regions and between countries."
