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THIS OBJECT IS PART OF THE PROJECT 'A HISTORY OF CORNWALL IN 100 OBJECTS'.

REDRUTH TOWN MUSEUM. Rugby has become synonymous with Cornishness. This Rugby shirt with its distinctive gold and black stripes belongs to the Royal Cornwall Rugby Union. It dates from 1991 when Cornwall won the County Championship and the Cornish army turned Twickenham black and gold. This was the first time Cornwall had won the championship since 1908. A rugby ball signed by the winning team of 1991 can be seen at the Royal Cornwall Museum.

In 1908 many of the players came from Redruth. They included Bert Solomon who was their best known player. He was a miner who played rugby and wasn't always over keen to play. Fellow team members recall having to drag him away from his pigeons for an important game. Bert did play once for England, but when they asked him the next year declined the invitation. He was asked to play again but felt out of place playing with solicitors and doctors.

Photo: Bernie Pettersen