An Introduction to Vintage Canada Rugby Polo Shirt
Produced by Ellis Rugby, this vintage Canada Rugby Polo Shirt is exceptional quality. In 1902 the first ‘All -Canada’ rugby touring team set sail for Britain. The team largely comprised of players from British Colombia. And with the exception of the New Zealand Native side who toured Europe in 1888-89. Canada became the first international representative team to tour the United Kingdom.
The tour took place in the winter of 1902-03. Though no test matches were staged. They undertook a 21-match visit. Winning seven, losing a dozen and drawing twice (both scoreless). It was a gruelling itinerary. As the team often played three games a week. They began their first match on the 13th of December. And finished their last game on the 7th of February.
The teams notable victories were over Ulster by 11 points to 8. During their time in Scotland, they beat North of Scotland 5 points to nil. And Jedforest 8 points to 3. In England, they won against Harrogate, Bristol, London Scottish and Berkshire Wanderers.
In 1906 the touring “All Blacks” were willing to play some games in Canada. But instead of welcoming the New Zealand team Canadian rugby officials sent a British Colombia representative team down to San Francisco to help promote the game in the USA.
It wasn’t until 1932 when the first official Canadian rugby tour to Japan took place. The ‘Canucks’ played ‘The Brave Blossoms’ in two Test matches. The first Test match played at Hanazono Field in Osaka in front of a crowd of 20,000 spectators. The teams were evenly matched. The Japanese had a slight edge at half-time leading three points to nil. Somewhat controversially, the referee Mr. B. Yasujiro award two penalty tries to the Japan team. Also, these combined with a try from left winger Takeo Kitano edged the final score by 9 points to 8. In return, Canada scored two tries by Centre George Niblo and Number Eight forward Campbell Forbes who scored a try and kicked a conversion.
The Second Test drew an even larger audience with 35,000 attending the Meiji Jungu Stadium in Tokyo. This time Japan totally dominated the game. Their free- flowing style of rugby caught the tourists by surprise. And at half time Japan led Canada by 22 points to 5. The second half was no better for the tourists and Japan added a further 16 points to Canada’s no reply. The game finished 38 points to 5. Japan’s flying winger Zenjiro Toba-Nakajima scored a hat trick of tries. The other try scorers were Centre Saburo Hirao, Fly-Half Ichiro Nogami, Captain Yoshio Okada and Blind Side Flanker Teiji Toshi. In addition Full Back Tsunehiko Kasahara kicked three conversions and one penalty and Left Winger Take0 Kitano also added a conversion.
For Canada Second Row forward Jerry Boone scored the lone try and Centre and Captain Len Leroy kicked the conversion. Although the final result of this second test was disappointing, it was a young squad and they had made four changes from the First Test match.
Manufacturing
Manufactured from 100% chunky pique Cotton, the Ellis Rugby Vintage Canada Rugby Polo Shirt features detailed embroidery on the vintage Canadian crest. Also, contrast inner placket, arms and collar stands. In addition to herringbone detail on vents and velvet tape on neck opening. In addition subtle Ellis Rugby branding features on the collar stand with tone on tone logo on the arm.
