NZRU and Police launch appeal for missing jersey

The New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) is appealing for the return of a rare and precious 100-year-old New Zealand Maori Rugby jersey stolen from Rotorua during the team’s centenary celebrations in June.

The 1910 jersey had belonged to New Zealand Maori hooker David Small – one of the members of the first ever New Zealand Maori team. Small wore the jersey on tour in Australia with the 1910 team. He continued to play for New Zealand Maori in 1911 and 1913.

The Small family had loaned the jersey to the New Zealand Maori team for the duration of their three-match Sealord New Zealand Maori Centenary Series and celebrations.

The jersey was stolen from a centenary function at the Energy Events Centre in Rotorua.

NZRU Chief Executive Steve Tew urged anyone with information to come forward.

"Our efforts so far to find the jersey have not been successful and we have been left with no choice but to lodge a formal police complaint about the stolen jersey.

"We are now appealing publicly for anyone with any information – no matter how small – to come forward either to us, or to the Police. Our goal, quite simply, is to get the jersey back and return it to its rightful owners,” he said.

Bay of Plenty Police Acting District Commander Detective Inspector John Tims, says a CIB investigation team has been established to investigate the theft.

"This jersey represents an incredibly precious piece of New Zealand rugby history. It is unacceptable that it has been stolen and we will be doing everything we can to get it back.

"The key to solving this case and recovering the jersey will be information from members of the public. Someone knows something about this, and we ask that they come forward – either officially to Police or anonymously via the independently run Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 11,” he said.

The jersey is black with a red centre band and a gold fern. It was already in very fragile condition and the Small family had intended to have the jersey preserved at the end of the Sealord Series.

New Zealand Maori Coach Jamie Joseph said the jersey had been a powerful reminder for the team of the mana and history of the New Zealand Maori jersey.

“This was a treasure loaned to the team at our request, and it is distressing to all of us associated with the team that people feel it was okay to steal what was a special taonga for New Zealand Maori rugby and for the family of David Small.

“The jersey was instrumental in helping the players understand what it meant to be part of the 100-year celebrations. It was extremely special to have the original jersey side by side with the current jersey in the team room,” he added.

New Zealand Maori Rugby Board Chairman Wayne Peters is asking for anyone with any information on the missing jersey to come forward.

“I was fortunate enough to see this historical taonga during the centenary celebrations and I plead with those who took it to return it.

“Not only have the culprits stolen from the Small family, but they have also robbed New Zealanders of a significant piece of Maori rugby history. It is extremely disappointing, particularly when the Small family has been so generous in allowing us to enjoy their precious family heirloom,” he said.

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About the jersey: The jersey has been in the Small family for 100 years and was worn by David Small in 1910 while on a tour of Australia. That 1910 tour saw the team win seven, draw two and lose two matches. The team was managed by Ned Parata and captained by Alex Takarangi.

Small was a Southland representative from 1908-1913 and also refereed in the region for three years.

The Southland hooker had strong connections to rugby - his first cousin Billy Stead, who also played in the 1910 team with him, was vice-captain of the 1905 Originals and captained the All Blacks in 1908, playing in four Tests as captain and a total of 35 games in his career.

The jersey was discovered in 1961 by Small’s son Vern when cleaning out his father’s garage in Wellington. The Sports Post newspaper subsequently published a photo of David Small in 1961 in what was even then, a very tattered jersey.

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