Ellis Rugby – Men’s Vintage Varsity Rugby T-Shirt Retro Sky – Light Blue – M

Ellis Rugby – Mens Vintage Varsity Rugby T-Shirt Retro Sky – Light Blue

Manufacturing
Manufactured from Satin touch 100% cotton, this Ellis Rugby classic design features the vintage Oxford Crown and vintage Cambridge Lion as smart appliques on the front chest. In addition, the Ellis Rugby branding and XV on the arm. Also, herringbone detail on side vents and velvet tape on the neck opening.

Satin touch 100% cotton.
Vintage Oxford Crown and vintage Cambridge Lion as smart appliques on the front chest.
Ellis Rugby branding and XV on the arm.
Herringbone detail on side vents.
Velvet tape on the neck opening.

An Introduction to Vintage Varsity Rugby T-Shirt
The Vintage Varsity Rugby T-Shirt Retro Sky is inspired by the heritage of the Varsity Match and the many great players who have worn the famous jerseys of Oxford and Cambridge. Here are four outstanding players from the history of the inter-university matches.

Billy Geen, Oxford, Newport Wales.

Geen played on the wing for both Wales and Oxford, but moved in to the Centres for his club Newport. He represented the Barbarians from 1911 to 1915 and was capped by Monmouthshire County.

He was born in Newport. But he went to school at Northam Place at Potters Bar and later Haileybury College before being accepted into Oxford University. He also played some club rugby during his time in London at Blackheath.

His international career included three caps for Wales during the 1912 1913 season. That same season he played in the Newport team that defeated the touring South African side. Unfortunately, injury prevented him from playing more internationals, and his service in the First World War put an end to his career.

Furthermore, Geen commissioned second lieutenant into the 9th Kings Royal Rifle Corpsin August 1914 and sent to the Western Front in May 1915. Sadly, he lost his life in action in Hooge, Belgium. He is remembered on the Menin Gate memorial.

Oxford Cambridge Scotland Ireland Rugby Internationals
Ian Smith, Oxford, Edinburgh University, London Scottish Scotland.

Ian Smith played 32 Tests for Scotland and two Tests for the British Irish Lions. Born in Melbourne and brought up in New Zealand, Smith moved to England. He received education at Winchester College, before studying at Oxford University. And later he studied at Edinburgh University.

At Oxford, he took up rugby and he was eligible to play for Scotland due to his Scottish parents. He played all four matches in Scotlands first ever Five Nations Grand Slam in 1925. A year earlier he was selected for the British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa in 1924.

He scored 24 international tries, all in the Five Nations tournament and continued to represent Scotland until 1933 when he captained them in their Triple Crown winning season.

Mike Gibson, Cambridge North of Ireland FC Ireland

Mike Gibson MBE represented Irelandand the British and Irish Lions at international level.He was also inducted in to the IRB Hall of Fame.

His distinguished career began with Ireland in 1964, and he earned his 69th and final capin the second and final test win against Australiain Sydney in1979 at age 36.

Varsity Rugby British Lions England Rugby Internationals
During the1971 British Irish Lions tour to New Zealand, he played Centre in the Test matches. Along with captain John Dawes, Gibson formed an outstanding midfield combination. Along with the likes of Gareth Edwards,Gerald Davies,David Duckham and J.P.R. Williams, they formed one of the finest back-lines in Lions history.

The 1971 tour remains to date the Lions only series victory over the All Blacks. Gibsons attacking flair was widely respected by the New Zealand press and rugby public.

Cyril Lowe,MC,DFCCambridge, Blackheath England

Loweheld Englands international try scoring record for over sixty years. He was also a First World War flying acecredited with nine victories, and supposedly the inspiration for W. E. Johns character Biggles.

Along with his Dulwich School colleagues he went on to represent Cambridge and international rugby. Lowe and J. E. Greenwood were capped by England. Eric Loudoun-Shandand Grahame Donald became Scotland internationals. And W. D. Dohertywho went on to play for and captain Ireland.

Although he was not physically large,standing 5 ft 8 in 1.73 m and weighing around nine-and-a-half stone 133 lb 60 kg. He was an outstanding athlete and rugby player. Very fast, with excellent handling skills and great footwork.

He went on to Cambridge University where he won rugby blues in 1911, 1912 and 1913, making him a rare triple blue.

What’s in the box
1 x Varsity Retro T-Shirt