Dave Gallaher's 'Originals' All Blacks jersey fetches $411,826 at auction in Cardiff

The statue of Dave Gallaher outside Eden Park Rugby Stadium as it has last minute work done to it. Photo / Janna Dixon

A 110-year-old rugby jersey worn by legendary All Black captain Dave Gallaher has fetched an astounding £180,000 (NZD$411,826) at auction in Wales overnight.

Gallaher wore the famous jersey during the side's tour of the British Isles in 1905 with the team that was known as 'the Originals'.

Wales Online reported that the jersey was believed to have been snapped up by Nigel Wray, the chairman of London-based rugby club Saracens.

The sale eclipses the previous top price paid for a rugby jersey, set in May when a fan bid £21,500 (NZ$51,700) for an All Blacks jersey worn during the same tour.

Gallaher exchanged his muddy jersey with his Welsh counterpart, Gwyn Nicholls, after their match.

Nicholls took it to his family laundry business in Cardiff, before handing it to his rugby-mad van boy Thomas Mahoney.

The jersey was kept in Mahoney's family for generations before coming up for auction.
Gallaher was born in Ireland in 1878 and emigrated to New Zealand with his family in the 1890s.

After becoming a prominent figure in New Zealand rugby, he captained his side's first tour outside Australasia in 1905, where they played in Britain, France, and Canada.

They lost only one match, going down controversially 3-0 against Wales at Cardiff Arms Park.

Gallaher played 33 times for his country and won six test caps.

Ten years after his retirement from rugby he volunteered to serve his country during World War I, aged 42.

Gallaher was killed during the battle of Gravenstafel Spur on October 4, 1917, when a piece of shrapnel penetrated his helmet.

He was honoured in 2011 when a bronze statue of him was unveiled outside Eden Park.

His jersey from 1905 has the embroidered New Zealand silver fern on its chest and stitched canvas overlay to shoulders, upper chest and back area. It is complete with leather v-shape neckline.