FIJI 1924 WOMEN’S RUGBY SHIRT

DETAILS

Rugby was first played in Fiji by European and Fijian soldiers of the Native Constabulary at Ba, on Viti Levu Island in 1884.

In December 1913, the All Blacks, who had been touring so very successfully in California, were on their way back to New Zealand. The Fiji RFU arranged a game with them at Albert Park, the first representative match to be played in the colony. The Fiji team were Europeans. The All Blacks won 67–3

By 1914 a ‘native competition’ was started and in 1915 a Fiji Native Union was begun and became affiliated to the Fiji RFU.

Fiji played their first international against Western Samoa in Apia, Samoa on 18 August 1924.

Fiji’s 20-man squad came exclusively from the five registered native clubs of the time.

The match was played at 7 am to allow the Samoans time to get to work afterwards and was played on a pitch with a large tree on the halfway line.

Fiji wore black and won 6–0 despite playing barefoot. The return match was won 9–3 by Samoa to draw the series.

The first-ever Fiji test team continued their overseas adventure with a nine-match tour of Tonga. Though Fiji lost the first test played in Nukuʻalofa 9–6, they were not to lose again, taking the second test 14–3 then drawing the decider 0–0. They won all six of the matches against non-test opposition.