Wales v New Zealand 1905 Rugby Match at Cardiff Arms Park

Without a shadow of doubt, the most momentous day in Welsh rugby was the 16th December 1905. It was the day when the All Blacks came to town (Cardiff) and Welsh rugby came of age. Consider the facts -

The All Blacks had beaten Australia 14-3, Scotland 12-7, Ireland 15-0 and England 15-0. Wales were unbeaten also, thrashing England 25-0, beating Scotland 6-3 and Ireland 10-3. So the scene was set, Triple Crown Wales against the All Blacks, the team that had never been beaten, EVER. The match ? The match was the most controversial rugby match ever, Wales went ahead with a try by Teddy Morgan then the All Blacks thought they'd scored and claim that Dean's was dragged back from over the line. The arguments will go on forever but one thing is certain Wales hammered the All Blacks 3 - 0.

team-photo

far back - Ack Llewellyn (touch judge),

back row - Tom Williams (committee), Jack Williams, George Travers, Dai 'Tarw' Jones, Will Joseph, Rhys Gabe, Sir JDT Llewellyn (president).

middle row - Charlie Pritchard, Jehodia Hodges, Willie Llewellyn, Gwyn Nicholls (captain), Bert Winfield, Cliff Pritchard, Arthur Harding.

seated front Teddy Morgan, Dicky Owen, Percy Bush

jerseys
	A 1905 All Blacks jersey swapped with Welsh player Cliff Pritchard after the match with Wales. Cliff Pritchard was the Welsh 'Rover', the man who supplied the pass to Rhys Gabe who fed Teddy Morgan who scored the try. According to the local newspaper the Pontypool Free Press, Pritchard caught the train home to Pontypool and when he arrived in the station at 11.23 pm he was expecting it to be deserted. The station however was packed with well wishers. They then carried him shoulder high through the streets, It is thought he was wearing this jersey on his lap of honour around Pontypool. (WRM-0112)

	Revenge of the All Blacks A 1924 Welsh rugby jersey. The next tour to follow the 1905 All Blacks were the all conquering 1924 All Black Invincibles who defeated Wales 19-0. This Welsh jersey was taken back to New Zealand by an All Black player Les Cupples, who played as a forward in this match. WRM has rescued this jersey from the land of the long white cloud and brought it home to Wales. The jersey is a number 15 and was worn during match by Jack Gore, the Blaina forward and father of Billy Gore. Jack won 4 caps for Wales in 1924 & 25. (WRM-0350) boots

	Pair of football boots, circa 1900s. These boots are almost identical to those worn by Dickie Owen in the 1905 match. (WRM-0107) cap

	Welsh Trial Cap 1905 - This cap belonged to Jack Jenkins who went on to gain his only cap in 1906 against the Springboks. (WRM-0108) books

	"The Triumphant Tour of the New Zealand Footballers 1905" by George Dixon - The manager's account of the tour. Copies sold to the public were soft cover. This a is hardback copy, a presentation copy from the author, these were generally only available to players, NZRFU officials and the close friends of Dixon. (WRM-103) programmes

	The All Blacks souvenir, 12 page booklet titled "The New Zealand Football Team Souvenir of the Visit to Wales". printed prior to the All Blacks visit this quaint little booklet is published by A M'Lay & Co. Ltd of Cardiff prior to the Welsh leg of the tour. (WRM-0106)

	The official programme. This programme was bought at the game by John Summers of Cardiff. Twenty three year old John was a keen sportsman, a member of athletics club Roath Harriers, he worked together with his father in the family business (James Summers Funeral Directors). In his delight at the score line John has inscribed in pencil on the front "Wales won by one try N.Z. nil. John died in 1949 and the programme has passed down through the Summers family, to John's son Morlais, a Cardiff & District representative and then to grandson Paul. We are grateful to Paul, himself a ex-player with Glamorgan Wanderers for allowing us to include this programme in this exhibition. (WRM-0121)

	Reproduction of the pirate programme on sale at the match, it is believed these were printed and sold at the 1935 or 1953 match, this particular copy belonged to Norman Fox of Cardiff who's best friend was Tom Nicholls, a relation of Gwyn (pictured on the front cover). Reproduced by S Glossop & Sons Ltd, Cardiff (WRM-0120)

	Wales v England 1905 players brooch/badge. These badges were presented to the players & possibily committee. It is made by Crouch of Cardiff and hallmarked, believed to be 8ct gold, still in original box. (WRM-0111) autographs

	Autographs of the Welsh team that defeated the All Blacks, only 11 of these are originals, the 4 missing have been reproduced from originals dating from this period and added using modern technology, see if you can spot which 4 are 'fake'. (WRM-0100) railway

	They came from everywhere, this railway handbill is advertising trains from Portland in Devon, stops included Yeovil, Bath and Bristol. Many chartered trains arrived late in Cardiff on the day of the match and their occupants were locked out as the gates to the Arms Park were shut 90 minutes before kick off. (WRM-0114) postcards

	Postcard of the New Zealand team that faced Wales (WRM-0116)

	Postcard of Welsh team which defeated New Zealand, postally used, dated 1908 (WRM-0118) wru

	A "Western Mail" Giant Postcard featuring 1905 Welsh captain Gwyn Nicholls. The postcard was a presented with the paper, we believe soon after the New Zealand game. The total size is 22cm x 13cm. (WRM-0117)

	Headed notepaper containing details of the 1905 Welsh team that defeated New Zealand, presumed to be written by Eric Evans but contained in the collection of Sir David Rocyn Jones (WRM-0113) thumb

	Thumb-o-Graphs - a pocket sized booklet containing thumbprints and autographs of prominent rugby players and personalities including 1905 All Black Mynott and 10 of the victorious Welsh team, including captain Gwyn Nicholls and Teddy Morgan, the man who scored the only try of the game. (WRM-0306) Mynott Nicholls Morgan
bush
	"Captain Bush March" - music dedicated to stand off Percy Bush, the Cardiff captain who won his first cap in this match.