The Rugby League Museum

After a visit to the New Zealand Rugby League headquarters yesterday - more on that in the coming weeks - I popped into Rugby League Museum, for a look.  I was lucky enough to be shown around by Museum Curator and 1961 Kiwi's Captain Don Hammond.

 Even though there are many great items on display, from Albert Baskerville's All Golds contract through to a signed Kiwi's 2008 World Cup Winning Jersey, the centerpiece of the museum, has to be the Rugby League World Cup.  Don was kind enough to take my photo with the trophy and filled me in on its colourful history.

The Rugby League World Cup

First contested in 1954, the Trophy was shared between England and Australia, until six days before the final of the 1970 tournament, when it was fiendishly stolen from the Australian Team's Hotel in Bradford, England.  After initial investigations returned no leads, all hope was lost, and a replacement was hastily arranged.

There was no trace of the trophy until 1990 when unemployed father-of-four, Stephen Uttley stumbled on it in a ditch merely yards away from the surprised Bradford and Bingley Rugby League Club.

Although missing the cockerel that had previously adorned the lid and carrying a few additional scratches and dings around the base, the trophy was otherwise unharmed and ready to be presented back to Australia after their win in 1992.

In 2008, Nathan Cayless and the Kiwis won the Trophy, and it's colourful history continued when it was held aloft by yours truly yesterday afternoon.

If you want to see the Rugby League World Cup for yourself, head along to the Rugby League Museum, Rugby League House, 7 Beasley Avenue, Penrose, Auckland.  The museum is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 11am-3pm and is well worth the price of admission.