Second World War rugby ball

This deflated rugby ball was used in a game between 19 Battalion, Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force (2NZEF), and 1 Battalion, Welsh Regiment, in Egypt on 6 April 1940.

At the time 19 Battalion were champions of the New Zealand Division and holders of the Freyberg Cup. The game attracted a large crowd of servicemen and a description was broadcast to England and New Zealand. A hard, willing contest was won by 19 Battalion 11-9.

Image courtesy National Army Museum Te Mata Toa
Accession Number: 1980.6304
Permission of the National Army Museum Te Mata Toa must be obtained before any reuse of this image.