Rugby traces its origins to the early 19th century in England. It was born from a football game at Rugby School when player William Webb Ellis disregarded the rules and picked up the ball. Read along to learn about rugby related banknotes and coins.
In 1871, a tragic incident in a rugby practice match that took the life of a Richmond player led to an organizational meeting, forming the Rugby Football Union (RFU) that became the sport’s governing body. The sport spread globally, gaining popularity for its combination of strategy, strength, and skill. Today, rugby encompasses various formats, including Rugby Union and Rugby League. Here are some of the rugby teams from all over the world.
Flying Fijians – Rugby Related Banknotes
The Fiji national rugby sevens team, also called the Flying Fijians, competed in the World Rugby Sevens Series and won the Summer Olympics held in Brazil in 2016, and again in the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Winning the Olympics, the Sevens Series, as well as the World Cup has made Fiji the only country in the world to win the Sevens Treble.
The Fiji National rugby sevens team’s gold medal winning moment at the 2016 Summer Olympic is commemorated on the 2016 Fiji 7 Dollar rugby. Olympic coach Ben Ryan and Olympic captain Osea Kolinisau are gracing the note’s obverse, along with the Fijian flag, the Fijian arms, and a gold medal and the Reserve Bank of Fiji logo in Optically Variable Ink. A picture of the Fiji Rugby 7’s Gold Olympians with Prime Minister Josaia Voreqe Banimarama and officials is also featured on the note’s reverse. The note’s watermark also reveals rugby player Sevenaca Rawaca and an electrotype 7 while its 2-mm wide Starsheen windowed security thread bears a demetalized FIJI 7S GOLD OLYMPIANS.
Manu Samoa – More Rugby Banknotes
A former member of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance, the Samoa national rugby union team has participated in the Rugby World Cup since the 1991 tournament. Their name, Manu Samoa is said to be named after a Samoan warrior. They made it to the quarter-finals of that competition as well as in the 1995 tournament.
The obverse of the Samoa 10 Tala Polymer Banknote that commemorates the 16th Pacific Games held in Apia, Samoa illustrates rugby along with other sports such as boat racing and weightlifting. The note’s reverse shows boys playing rugby on the beach.
Ikale Tahi
The Ikale Tahi which means “Sea Eagles” is the Tonga national rugby union team. In the 2011 Rugby World Cup, the team won over France. Their win of 19-14 was one of the most unexpected in the history of the Rugby World Cup.
The reverse of the 2 Paanga banknote from 2008 depicts two men playing rugby. It also shows a medallion and children with a school building in the background. On its obverse are the national arms and King George Tupou V.
British Virgin Islands National Rugby Union Team
The British Virgin Islands national rugby union team is a member of the International Rugby Board. They first played in the 1996 tournament and competed in the NACRA Caribbean Championship with Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, the Bahamas, Antigua, Trinidad and Tobago, Bermuda, and Guyana.
In 2016, the British Virgin Islands issued four silver proof coins highlighting the 2016 Summer Olympics. Each of the coins features he colored Brazil and Union Jack flags and an Olympic sport including rugby. Other sports portrayed in the series are volleyball, golf, and triathlon. On one side of the coins depicts Queen Elizabeth II.
The Lions
The Lions is the Great Britain national rugby league team. They took part in the Rugby League World Cup and won in 1954, 1960, and 1972. However, in 2006, it was announced by the Rugby Football League that the Lions would no longer play regularly but only on occasional tours.
Included in this red deluxe coin album is a two-pound coin issued in 1999 to commemorate the Rugby World Cup, featuring a rugby ball on one side. Also included in this collection are 1 penny, two pence, five pence, ten pence, twenty pence, fifty pence, and one pound standard circulation coins and a 5-pound coin that commemorates Princess Diana of Wales. These coins portray Queen Elizabeth II by Ian Rank-Broadley.
