LOT 37 1976 Argentina | Adolfo

from The Greatest: The Rugby Jersey Collection of Sir Gareth Edwards CBE

‘Click to bid’ LOT 36 1975 Japan | Squad Jersey

Etchegary

International Rugby Union jersey match-worn by Adolfo Etchegary versus Wales

Jersey & Provenance

Jersey in original and complete condition. Bears label for Noceto Sports, printed Puma to chest, black felt No.9 to reverse.

Provenance: the personal collection of Sir Gareth Edwards CBE & family.

Adolfo Etchegary

Adolfo Marcelo Atchegary (b.1942) was a former scrumhalf and captain for Argentina. He played 25 Test matches between 1964 and 1976. He spent his club rugby career with the historic Buenos Aires club, Atlético San Isidro Adolfo Marcelo.

The Match

In 1976, Argentina toured Wales and England for a series of six matches culminating with a Wales XV in Cardiff Arms Park on 16th October. Etchegary was an ever-present captain for the tourists. The Pumas were then to travel back to homesoil for two tests against the All Blacks.

Wales were not awarded caps for matches against the Pumas at this stage, but the current Grand Slam winners fielded a team laden with experienced all-time greats, including JPR Williams, Gerald Davies, Phil Bennett, Derek Quinnell, captain Terry Cobner and scrumhalf Sir Gareth Edwards with whom Etchegary swapped jerseys after the game.

There was no doubting who were the favourites, the expectation was one of an inevitable comfortable victory for the star-studded men in red. However, Argentina gave Wales the greatest scare of the golden era. The Pumas put on a special performance that would stay in the memories for a long time.

At half-time the match was drawing and at injury time at the end of the game, the underdogs led 19-17. But in the dying seconds, to save Welsh blushes, Phil Bennett converted a penalty for a high tackle. Relieved Wales won the match by a single point.

The match is still hugely revered in Argentina, indeed in 2016 the Argentina Rugby Federation arranged a massive ‘gala de rugby’ to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the match. Perhaps Argentina’s performance should not have been such a shock for Welsh rugby. At fly-half the Pumas had one of the most complete rugby union footballers in Hugo Porta, who put in a typically composed performance opposite Phil Bennett. Sir Gareth chose Porta’s performance that day in his 50 great moments in the history of rugby union.

But Porta was only able to play in such a way with delivery from Etchegary as his half-back companion - wearing this jersey.