Prized Jimmy Hunter jersey back from Italy
The New Zealand Rugby Museum’s prized 1905 Jimmy Hunter All Blacks jersey proved a popular item among Italian rugby fans.
Museum director Stephen Berg took the jersey, one of the museum’s most prized possessions, to display in Rome as the part of a special exhibition hosted by Fango E Sudore – Il Museo del Rugby.
Hunter was part of the famous Originals, who toured the United Kingdom in 1905. The Taranaki back scored 44 tries in 36 games and later captained the All Blacks in 1908.
The jersey was on display for a week either side of the All Blacks’ test against Italy last month, which Berg attended.
Berg was greeted at the Italian museum by the mayor of Artena, the area of Rome the museum is in, the chief executive of the Italian Olympic Committee, journalists and a large group of schoolchildren who turned up for the exhibition.
When Berg arrived in Italy he took the bag with the jersey in it to a bank in Colleferro, where Italian rugby museum director Corrado Mattoccia wanted to store it until the exhibition opened.
‘‘I said it was insured for $65,000 and the bank said ‘no, they couldn’t look after it’, it was too valuable,’’ Berg said. ‘‘’Not possible’, I could make out the Italian bank manager saying.
‘‘It would have to be sent to Rome and that would take three days to organise.’’
The jersey was stored in the Australian room at the museum before the exhibition opened.
Berg had to get permission from the Ministry for Culture and Heritage, and an export certificate to take the jersey out of the country because it is a protected object.
Berg said he was keen to explore options about showing items from the museum or having a presence in Japan for the World Cup next year.
The English translation of the Italian museum is the Museum of Rugby, Mud and Sweat.
Mattoccia has an enormous collection of memorabilia and jerseys, and supports the game in Italy. He has two jerseys from the first international match played by Italy under the fascist Benito Mussolini regime.