TIMELINE OF STATE JERSEY COLOURS

TIMELINE OF STATE JERSEY COLOURS

written by Sean Fagan

An overview of each state representative team’s colours up until start of WW2.

Research is ongoing and colours/designs posted below are as best known to be correct and almost all based on original newspaper sources (articles and b&w photos). However, changes/updates will be made as new information is found.

Altered team jersey colour/s for a one-off game within an extended era of settled colour/s may not be shown.

Where search of available sources has not revealed colours [unknown] is noted. If search is incomplete or not commenced tba is stated. Trial matches such as vs “The Rest” have not been included.

© Sean Fagan

1905 Australian squad in their state jerseys
1905 Australian squad in their NSW & QLD state jerseys

New South Wales Waratahs

  • 1882: navy blue
  • 1883-85: heather green
  • 1886-87: cardinal
  • 1888-89: maroon
  • 1890: red
  • 1891-present: light blue

Queensland Reds

  • 1882-83: red & black hoops
  • 1884-85: chocolate
  • 1886-89: navy blue (away) / white (home)
  • 1890-93: navy blue
  • 1894-2010: deep red maroon
  • 2011-present: red

Victoria

  • 1888 vs British Lions, vs NZ Natives: [unknown]
  • 1889 vs NZ Natives : [unknown]; vs NSW : light blue
  • 1894 vs NSW: dark green
  • 1895 vs NSW: navy blue with gold yolk
  • 1899 vs British Lions: white
  • 1908 vs Wallabies: navy blue & gold hoops
  • 1909 vs Sydney University: dark blue
  • 1910 vs NZ Maori: navy blue
  • 1911 & ’12 vs City & Suburban (NSW): [unknown]
  • 1926-27: dark green with gold
  • 1928-39: navy blue
  • 1930 vs British Lions: white

Victorian XV that met the British Lions in 1899
Victorian XV that met the British Lions in 1899

Western Australia

  • 1907 vs NSW: olive green
  • 1908 vs Wallabies: black & gold hoops
  • 1929-30 (incl vs British Lions): gold
  • 1933 vs Wallabies: dark blue & white hoops
  • 1934-39:  black with gold collar
  • 1938 tour to Sri Lanka (Ceylon): green & gold

South Australia

  • 1888 vs British Lions: [unknown]
  • 1933 vs Vic: tba [solid white/pale in photo]
  • 1934 vs Vic: tba [two stripes, one dark, other white/pale in photos]
  • 1935 vs Vic, vs WA: tba
  • 1936 vs Vic: tba
  • 1936 vs WA: white
  • 1937 vs Vic, vs WA: tba
  • 1937 vs South Africa: white
  • 1938 vs Vic: tba
  • 1939 vs Aust Universities: tba
  • 1939 vs WA: white

Tasmania

  • 1936 vs Gordon (Sydney): [unknown]
  • 1937 vs Western Subs (Sydney): [unknown]

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© Sean Fagan