Vintage USA Rugby Shirt Classic Rugby Union

An Introduction to Vintage USA Rugby Shirt

Produced by Ellis Rugby, Vintage USA Rugby Shirt Classic Rugby Union is a modest shirt. The first USA rugby team played the national Australia Rugby Union team on the 16th of November 1912 at Berkeley. The Wallabies won the game by 12 points to 8 points.

In 1913 the visitors were the New Zealand Rugby Union team also at Berkeley. The “All Blacks” were far too strong for the USA team, defeating them 51 points to 3 points.

Four years earlier the USA had played and beaten France at the 1920 Summer Olympics. As Champions, they received once again an invitation to retain their crown at the 1924 Summer Olympics held in Paris. The United States won the gold medal, beating France in an upset in front of a partisan crowd.

The Stade Olympique of Colombes was the venue for all the Rugby Union matches. The French Olympic Committee invited Romania and the USA and a very strong France Rugby team. The chances were that the French will beat easily beat the other two countries.

The USA Olympic rugby team arrived in Paris after a 6,000-mile journey from Oakland in California. The team did not get entry to Boulogne immigration. Eventually, it took 12 hours to resolve the issue. And to make matters worse many of the players had been seasick during the turbulent crossing.

The French determined to get the victory. The team made life difficult for the USA team and did not provide any practice fields for the team. So the Americans found themselves a park in the outskirts of a city.

Read More

To make things worse, someone robbed the American players’ clothes during that day’s training session. Even though a French attendant posted, the team lost about $4,000 worth of cash and possessions.

With all the problems they encountered it could have affected the USA team. But they pulled together in adversity and defeated Romania 37 points to nil. Flyhalf Norman Slater, Flanker Jack Patrick (3 tries) and Centre Richard Hyland (4 tries) were outstanding. Also, Fullback Charlie Doe had a good day kicking 13 points.

The finalwas a bad tempered game provoked by the partisan French crowd. The USA team were too physical for their French counterparts with tries from Caesar Mannelli, William Rogers, John Patrick, and a brace from Linn Farrish. It could have been much worse as Charles Doe only managed one conversion. France’s lone try scored by Henri Galau to make the final result – USA 17 v France 3.

At the final whistle, French fans threw bottles and rocks onto the field. They threw stones on American players and officials. Wild brawls broke out in the stands. U.S. reserve Gideon Nelson knocked unconscious after being hit in the face by a walking stick. While, French fans invaded the pitch at the final whistle, leaving the police to protect the Americans.

Manufacturing

Manufactured from satin touch 100% cotton, the USA Rugby Union Shirt features detailed embroidery on the crest wings with US Stars & Stripes shield as an applique patch. Please note we use Ecru colour, rather than pure white to create a vintaged aged look to the garment. Also, it matches inner placket, cuffs and collar, herringbone detail on vents and velvet tape on the neck opening. In addition, there is a complex ‘1’ applique patch on the back with the subtle Ellis Rugby branding on the collar stand and tone on tone logo on the arm.  As well as the Vintage USA Rugby Shirt in Ecru, we also offer a Vintage USA Rugby Shirt in Navy and Polo and T-Shirt.

The available sizes are S – XL.