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Rugby Union. 1899 Ireland international team - Triple Crown Winners - shirt worn by William Grant
Byron.
The faded green shirt with embroidered spray of shamrock with four sprigs, with player’s name handwritten
in ink W.G. Byron” on the maker’s label (Lynch of Dublin). The badge with four sprigs was unique to the
1899 shirt. Framed. The earliest international rugby shirt to be offered at auction - a fantastic piece of Irish
and international rugby union history.”
William (Billy) Grant Byron was born in Londonderry on 1 July 1876 and died there in December 1961. He
was a graduate of Edinburgh University and made a career as an accountant. Byron served as an officer in the
Royal Irish Rifles in World War I. He played rugby for Derry, Edinburgh University, and North of Ireland. He
won eleven caps for Ireland - v. England in 1896, 1897, 1898 and 1899; v. Scotland in 1896, 1897, 1898 and
1899; v Wales in 1897, 1898 and 1899. 1899 saw Ireland’s second Triple Crown victory, a feat not to be repeat-
ed until 1948 - included in this lot is a copy of a press photograph of Billy Byron with some of the Irish team
including Karl Mullen at Cardiff before the clinching of the Triple Crown in 1948.
Estimate €25000-€30000 £17750-£21300
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