Vintage
Playing Kits
1880s - 1915
by
Sean Fagan of RL1908.com
The
playing kit of a rugby league player today may include a number of features
that appear to just be embellishments, serving no function other than
style and appearance. For example - the high collar, coloured piping
to the top of socks and stripes on the side of shorts. All is not as
it appears...
The
first playing kits of club teams covered the full body. Most wore skull
caps (possibly in team colour), the jersey, work breeches (strides/pants)
that ended below the knee, long stockings (socks) and boots.
The
top players wore belts around the top of the pants, others used tape
or ribbon which would be tied into a knot. The side of the pants incorporated
a heavy and strong seam. Tape would be stitched into and around the
top of socks, so it too could be tied into a knot.
Though
replaced by elastics later on, the modern use of coloured piping at
the top of socks and the stripes on the side of shorts grew from the
original functions of these stitchings. While the full-body style of
player kit was soon lost from rugby league and union, its use has been
preserved in the sport of American football.
Jerseys originally did not have high or turned-over collars. Tackling
a fast running back was achieved with a throw from grabbing the player
at the top of the jersey - known as a collar-stud tackle. To deceive
defenders some players wore a loosely tied hankerchief around their
neck, a fake collar or similar invention.
The
'whiskers tacklers' sometimes grabbed the loose fabric instead of the
jersey. Many jerseys were ripped and players had to retire during games
to re-stitch their jersey.
Back in England the more stylish club jerseys featured strong collars
and reinforced lace-up fronts to protect against grasping tacklers.
Most
players wore walking boots with leather bars nailed across the undersole
to help with their footing and for pushing (in scrums etc.). Top players
had different pairs of boots built for wet and dry weather.
The 'deluxe' version of football jerseys in the era were the ones that
incorporated a chamios shoulder straddle. These were almost impossible
to rip or for a defender to keep hold of. They incorporated a canvas
insert let in at the shoulders of the jersey, and may also have helped
reduce its weight when wet.
The best dressed rugby league team of the 1910s was Glebe. Their players
had the full belt for the shorts, canvas top jersey and incorporated
a badge. The clubs who wore two or three coloured hoops may have been
reluctant to introduce the reinforced jersey as it could only be obtained
in one colour. However individual players at Wests, Newtown, Souths
and Easts can be seen in team photos wearing this type of jersey.
The
high collar grasping tackle was becoming less frequent and this style
of jersey lapsed from use (though some club designs in the NRL have
followed the 'lines' of the style).
The
typical jersey of the early 1900s was made of wool and was particularly
heavy by today's standards.
Once
wet, it was an extra load for the players to carry around the field.
This
type of jersey continued in use until at least the early 1960s when
newer materials became available.
While
the use of shorts offered far more freedom of movement, it also exposed
knees to grazing and infection (which could - and did - prove to be
fatal).
Players would often cover their knees with bandings for some protection.
The insides of the socks were also heavily padded to guard the shins.
Jersey sleeves remained long throughout this era.
