Iconic 1973 JPR Williams rugby shirt sells for £27k

The jersey sold for £27,500 as part of an auction of a collection of JPR Williams' items

A rugby jersey worn by the late Wales legend JPR Williams in what is considered one of the sport's greatest ever games has been auctioned off for £27,500.

The jersey was worn in the Barbarians' 1973 match against the All Blacks, in which Williams was instrumental in the famous 23-11 win.

The Wales and Lions full-back, who died in January 2024 aged 74, was an icon of Wales' dominance of the 1970s, winning three Five Nations Grand Slams.

Auctioneers Rogers Jones and Co described him as "a revolutionary player who changed the way full backs played the beautiful game".

The jersey from the iconic 1973 match (left) was part of a collection of JPR Williams' items being sold at auction

The jersey was worn by Williams in the 1973 fixture - during which Sir Gareth Edwards scored one of the most memorable tries in history.

It formed part of a collection of items sold at an auction on Thursday.

Auctioneer Ben Rogers Jones says it was a "special honour and a privilege" to oversee the sale of items belonging to one of his heroes

It was a "white glove sale", meaning all of the items were successfully sold, and auctioneer Ben Rogers Jones said it was "a special honour and privilege" to coordinate.

"JPR Williams was one of my heroes, as he was to so many others," he said.

"There was interest from across the rugby playing nations and we are delighted to have achieved some fantastic prices."

Mr Rogers Jones added that, while Edwards' try was well-documented, "it is sometimes overlooked that JPR scored the crucial try to clinch the match for the Baa-baas", making the jersey "an important item of sporting memorabilia".

"We were so pleased that, at the auction, JPR's performance that day wasn't overlooked as the price soared to £27,500 with a bidder on the phone in London winning the top prize," he said.

The collection sold to a global audience, with buyers in Australia, Switzerland and France, as well as Wales and across the UK.