Original English Vintage Velvet Rugby Cap Collection Original Items

Original Items: Only One Set Available. The American’s all know that Cricket is the English game but despite British nostalgia Cricket has nothing on Baseball. We all know America’s most popular game is American Football but it has nothing on Rugby as Rugby is the most violent unprotected game ever devised.

Soccer is traditionally the game of the working class in England and Rugby is played by the upper crust with help from the French, South Africans and New Zealanders. From the Victorian era, Rugby was the game of class, ears were torn off, shoulders dislocated and limbs were shattered all in the name of having a good time. High class Ladies just loved to see their menfolk tearing each other to threads in almost prehistoric fashion.

The rewards were substantial: social and political advancement, a good marriage often were influenced by a man’s performance in this violent sport. It was nearly warfare.

It begins in Boarding School, then University and of course playing for England. Scotland, Ireland and Wales have there own teams. The traditional head ware when not playing was the tasseled Rugby cap complete with team badge, dates of participation and very often tailor’s labels from some of the finest outfitters in the country.

Here we have a Collection of four caps dated from 1900 to 1928, all but the earliest still bear an original tailor’s label. They each have their very dashing gilt tassels and badges, the bodies of the caps being constructed of lined velvet. This all harks back to the saying that England’s greatness was molded on the playing fields of Eton. This is a lovely collection ranging from Queen Victoria to King George V.