Rugby Memorabilia On The Rise

Ahead of the Rugby World Cup final between New Zealand and Australia on Saturday there has been a rise in interest for memorabilia, according to expert Gary Ashburn.

Some items from the match, which sees New Zealand looking for their third tournament victory having won the competition in 1987 and 2011, are expected to be good long-term investments, claims Ashburn.

An official Rugby World Cup 2015 match ball from New Zealand against Australia will be available for collectors to purchase on the official World Cup auction and memorabilia website, as well as items from all the 20 participating Rugby Unions.   

Ashburn, a former director of the Stanley Gibbons Group of collectibles companies, said: “A brilliant example of the increased interest in rugby memorabilia is a Francois Pienaar South Africa shirt signed by Nelson Mandela, which sold for £8,500 in a specialist auction prior to his death in 2013. Due to the soaring global demand for rugby memorabilia, I would now estimate this shirt to be worth up to £50,000 – with the price rising six fold – which is clearly a very attractive return of investment for its owner.

“With the final of Rugby World Cup 2015 shortly upon us, interest in historic items from the match are going to attract a significant level of attention from rugby fans and memorabilia collectors alike who will look at these items as long-term investments.”

Rugby World Cup 2015 memorabilia, including signed match balls from the semi-finals, can be found at www.rwc2015auction.com