Northern Ireland

Derry rugby player's 1899 Triple Crown jersey on sale for up to to €30,000

Derry man Billy Byron's 1899 jersey is expected to make between €25,000 and €30,000 at Whyte’s sale of sports memorabilia on December 13-14
Derry man Billy Byron's 1899 jersey is expected to make between €25,000 and €30,000 at Whyte’s sale of sports memorabilia on December 13-14 Derry man Billy Byron's 1899 jersey is expected to make between €25,000 and €30,000 at Whyte’s sale of sports memorabilia on December 13-14

THE world’s oldest Irish international rugby jersey once worn by a Derry sportsman is expected to make up to €30,000 when it goes under the hammer in Dublin next month.

William ‘Billy’ Grant Byron was wearing the historic top when the Ireland side secured their second Triple Crown victory in 1899.

After 116 years it has faded to a biscuit colour from its original green but the badge is unmistakeably Irish, albeit with four shamrocks rather than the typical three.

The player's name, WG Byron, is handwritten in ink on the maker's label, Lynch of Dublin.

“It is the earliest international rugby shirt to be offered at auction and a fantastic piece of Irish and international rugby union history,” said a spokesman for Dublin-based auctioneers Whyte’s.

Byron was born in Derry in 1876. An accountant by profession, he served as an officer in the Royal Irish Rifles in World War I. However, his real passion was for rugby, and he played for Derry, Edinburgh University and North of Ireland.

Byron also won eleven caps for Ireland against England, Scotland and Wales between 1896 and 1899. He was one of five players to play in all matches in Ireland's Second Triple Crown success in 1899. Ireland did not win another Triple Crown until 1948.

Lot 398 is expected to make between €25,000 and €30,000 at Whyte’s sale of sports memorabilia on December 13-14.

Meanwhile, soccer fans will be interested in a football used when Dublin’s Shamrock Rovers played against Matt Busby’s Manchester United side at Old Trafford on October 2 1957 in the first leg of the European Cup.

Rovers played magnificently but lost 3-2. Following the match a member of the team was presented with a football signed by the Manchester United side.

Busby’s Babes went on to win the second round of the Cup against Dukla Prague and progressed to meet Red Star Belgrade in the third round.

It was while returning to England from the away leg against Red Star Belgrade in February 1958 that the team’s plane crashed after a refuelling stop in Munich.

Tragically, eight of the players died as a result of the crash, seven of whom had signed the football. Despite this loss Manchester United reached the final of the European Cup.

The ball is signed by Matt Busby, Geoff Bent, Johnny Berry, Roger Byrne, Jackie Blanchflower, Joe Carolan, Bobby Charlton, Jack Crompton, Duncan Edwards, Ian Greaves, Mark Jones, Noel McFarlane, David Pegg, Albert Scanlon, Tommy Taylor, Liam Whelan. It has an estimate value of between €6,000 and €8,000.

Other interesting lots at the Whyte’s sale next month will include one of footballer Paul McGrath’s international caps and a GAA Football 1912 All Ireland Gold Medal to Louth, mounted on a 9 carat gold pinback to make a brooch.

To see more visit www.whytes.ie