With the 2023 Rugby World Cup currently underway in France, we thought it was only fitting to do a Reflections piece based around the sport.

In the archives, we just so happen to have a signed rugby ball that has a deep connection not only to rugby but to the World Cup itself!

This rugby ball features the signatures of some well-known New Zealand rugby legends. A quick glance, and any rugby fan would be able to identify the signatures as belonging to the 1987 Rugby World Cup-winning All Blacks squad. Some of the more notable signatures include Sir John Kirwan, Wayne (Buck) Shelford, Grant Fox, Michael Jones, and Coach Brian Lochore just to name a few!

The ball itself is white, featuring black stitching along the top edge and the All-Blacks logo on two of the four sides. But the story behind the ball is still unknown. The ball was found hidden away in a cupboard wrapped in a plastic bag before being rescued and relocated to proper archival storage. Although identifying the names behind the signatures was an easy enough task, finding out how or why this piece of New Zealand rugby history made its way to St Bede’s remains a mystery.

Perhaps as the Rugby World Cup continues over in France, some old boy may remember seeing or even donating this ball to the college and can help to piece together the connection between St Bede’s and the 1987 Rugby World Cup.

If you know anything, please email the Community Office on oldboys@stbedes.school.nz .