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Rugby League Lions Sweatshirt Zipper

£69.95

The Rugby League Lions Sweatshirt is inspired by the history of the many wonderful Great Britain Rugby League teams of the past.
The 1958 Great Britain rugby league tour of Australia and New Zealand was one of the most memorable in the history of the Lions.
The Lions regained the Ashes from the Kangaroos, the players performed glorious and heroic deeds, none more so than in the Second Test when Great Britain’s prop forward captain Alan Prescott played virtually the entire match with a broken arm and led his side to arguably the most famous win in Test history. It became known as The Battle of Brisbane.

Description

An Introduction to Rugby League Lions Sweatshirt

Manufactured by Ellis Rugby, Rugby League Lions Sweatshirt Zipper is an exceptional quality garment. It is a retro 100% cotton heritage quarter neck sweatshirt zipper including the classic Lions Badge.

The 1958 Great Britain rugby league tour of Australia and New Zealand was one of the most memorable in the history of the Lions.

The Lions regained the Ashes from the Kangaroos. In the Second Test when Great Britain’s prop forward captain Alan Prescott played virtually the entire match with a broken arm and led his side to arguably the most famous win in Test history. It became known as The Battle of Brisbane.

The tour also launched the careers of second rowers Brian Edgar and Dick Huddart, along with winger Ike Southward and the precocious Alex Murphy.

Karalius Sent Off against New South Wales 

The 21-year-old Dick Huddart making his Test debut in the Second Test, made a record 24 tour appearances scoring an incredible 17 tries for a forward. He was one of the Tour sensations. Huddart and the granite tough Vince Karalius formed an exceptional partnership on the field. And a lasting friendship off the field. Karalius got the nick-name (by the Aussies) of the ‘Wild Bull of the Pampas’.

The tour game against New South Wales at the Sydney Cricket Ground was a bad tempered game. Vince Karalius was sent off for a late tackle on Test winger Peter Diamond. So, Diamond took retribution on Winger Mick Sullivan and duly received his marching. 

Karalius made it a rule to avoid shaking hands with an opposing Australian player before a big game. He always considered the Aussies amongst the worst set of losers in the Rugby League. And he believed it as a two-faced hand-shaking like long-lost friends with players who had spend the previous 80 minutes roughing him up.

Breaking the Tour Curfew

Karalius received a three-match ban which kept him out of the First Test which Great Britain duly lost. It was however a major surprise that Huddart wasn’t selected as he’d been in outstanding form. These two characters were involved in a number of off-field activities, including curfew issues that had not helped Huddart’s case.

The heroics on the field did however mask the management issues and the relationships between the Players and the Coaches and Officials. Several players, including Huddart and Karalius came in to conflict with Manager Barney Manson. Manson would retire bed at half past eight and he’d wake two hours later hoping to catch players breaking the curfew.

Tom Mitchell, the joint Tour Manager with Manson was more understanding of the players. He turned a ‘blind eye’ to some of the high jinx associated with rugby tours. Water pistols were a usual distraction and a few unhinged doors and broken catches with Mr Karalius, largely responsible.

Great Britain went on to win the Test series with a resounding record score of 40-17 before another huge crowd (68,720) on the Sydney Cricket Ground, taking the Ashes Down Under for the first time since Gus Risman’s side won in 1946.

Wild scenes saw Aussie fans pelt winger Sullivan with apples and rubbish. Karalius turned to Sully and told him: ‘I wish this lot would throw us some proper fruit. I could murder an orange in this heat.’

Rugby League Cares

With every sale, Rugby League Cares receives donations as a charity that helps players transition out of the sport. Also, the Charity supports players’ past and present who are enduring poor health or hardship.

The Ellis Rugby Rugby League Lions Sweatshirt Zipper features a conventional collar and cuffs with quarter vintage bronze zip. Embroided with the vintage Great Britain Rugby League Lions crest and the Test scores stitched in Gold. 

Available in S to 5XL.

As well as the Rugby League Lions Sweatshirt Zipper, we also offer a Rugby League Lions T-Shirt and a Great Britain Rugby League Shirt.

The Story Behind the Design

This product includes our unique ‘Story-Teller’ microchip. Scan the garment label on the front, just above the hem. A message will appear on iPhones, tap the icon and the video will launch. Android Smartphones often scan better if the back of the phone is placed over the label. Once the chip is detected the video will launch automatically on your phone.

Please note: The Ellis Rugby ‘Story-Teller’ is an additional feature to our garments. We will not accept returns. Or supply replacements if the tag does not work, or stops working during the garment’s life.

Here’s the video you will see, telling the story behind the garment –

 

 

Additional information

Colour

Navy

Size

Small, Medium, Large, X Large, 2X Large, 3X Large, 4X Large, 5X Large

Gender

Men

Style

Zipper

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