WALLABIES JERSEY HISTORY (1899 – present) –

WALLABIES JERSEY HISTORY (1899 – present)

written by Sean Fagan

“The Australian jersey for the Rugby Union Tests against the All Blacks should make the crowds laugh if one is not much mistaken. It will be gold with a wide green bar, green collar. Black shorts will be worn. Don’t be surprised if there comes a call of ‘Here come the, Canaries,’ when the big day comes. It is a pity that a national color has not been fixed for our rugby.”
— The Referee sports newspaper, Sydney, July 1938

The first Australian team was chosen in 1899 for a home series against the British Lions. The Aussies wore sky blue in Sydney and maroon in Brisbane.

The first Australia vs New Zealand match was played in 1903 in Sydney. The home side again wore the NSW blue.

The Australian team’s first overseas tour was in 1905 with a visit to New Zealand (including one Test match). The jersey combined the colours of the rugby states (NSW blue and Queensland maroon).

The first team to go by the name of ‘Wallabies’ was the Australian touring party who went to Britain in 1908. Organised and funded by the NSWRU, the team wore NSW sky blue jerseys with a waratah badge.

The Wallabies first turned out in a predominately gold jersey in 1938, but it was not the permanent colour until 1962.

Some of the jerseys the Wallabies have played in since 1899 (a lithograph issued by Legends Genuine Memorabilia c2005. Image courtesy of Michael Fahey ). — Some of the jerseys the Wallabies have played in since 1899 (a lithograph issued by Legends Genuine Memorabilia c.2005. Image courtesy of Michael Fahey).

Wallabies jerseys colours
1899 – present
(Test matches & World Cups)

1899-1904
SKY BLUE in Sydney / MAROON in Brisbane

1905-1907
SKY BLUE & MAROON ‘butcher stripes’ hoops
except for
1907: regular hoops (3rd Test v NZ)

1908-1928
SKY BLUE
except for
1914: maroon in Brisbane

1929-1961
DARK GREEN
except for
1933: sky blue (tour to Sth Africa)
1937: white with green/gold centre bands (vs Sth Africa)
1938: gold with green centre band (vs NZ)
1956: white (vs Sth Africa)
1961: gold (tour to Sth Africa)

1962-76
GOLD

1978-present
GOLD WITH GREEN embellishments
except for
1995: gold & green hoops (vs Romania, RWC)
1997-98: gold with green & white (‘jigsaw jersey’)
1999: sky blue (vs England)