Robbie's Wallaby jersey to go under the hammer

Robbie's Wallaby jersey to go under the hammer
Sunday News | Sunday, 23 December 2007
Robbie's Wallaby jersey to go under the hammer - Rugby news & coverage - Stuff.co.nz

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The Wallabies jersey worn by Robbie Deans on the back page of the Sunday News has been donated to a charity auction in aid of David Thorne and the Rugby Foundation.

After last Saturday's photo shoot Deans signed the jersey, making it the only Wallabies jersey in existence to bear his signature. And it will be up for grabs to the highest bidder in aid of a great cause.

Former All Black Grahame Thorne is holding the auction at Hornby Working Man's Club on March 15.

David suffered a stroke and brain damage in May 2006 when he was injured during a under-21 match for Waimea against Huia in Motueka. He received a head-high tackle that burst his carotid artery.

Later tests showed he also has dysphasia, a condition that prevents speaking or understanding of words.

Tests also revealed David was suffering from asphyxia causing him to have sudden and severe fits.

Ironically, Alan Jones who ran against Deans to become the next Wallabies coach is flying over from Sydney to compere the auction.

Grahame said his son is making slow progress but will never fully recover.

"David is coming along. He can't say a sentence and it's going to be pretty hard for him to ever get a job. And if something happened to his mum or myself it would be tough because he can't look after himself," Graham told Sunday News.

"It's a magnificent gesture by Sunday News to give this jersey to the charity auction. We're really grateful."

Other items at the auction include a 1956 All Blacks jersey signed by 14 members of that team, a Ryder Cup polo shirt signed by Ian Woosnam, a Lions/All Black jersey signed by All Black and Lions captains, a framed picture of Jesse Owens running for USA at 1936 Olympic as well as one of him in an Ohio University running singlet, and an autographed scorecard from the Grange Golf Club Jesse Owens Tournament.

Also up for auction is a framed itinerary card for the 1970 All Black tour of South Africa, signed on back by George Dickenson, Eric Tindall, Curly Page, Charlie Oliver, Brian McKechnie and Jeff Wilson.

There is also a pair of boxing gloves signed by the great Muhammad Ali.

Lookin' good Robbie :cheers:

But seriously, that poor bugger, just out doing what most of us have done in our lives sometime (ie play the game) and he ends up like that.
Great to see the Union community yet again rallying to the cause!

Gotta feel for the bloke, and his family...What a great gesture from deans and Allan Jones, and all the donators for getting behind this cause, the rugby community are famed for supporting their own...

Mmmm i'd like to get my hands on that jersey :lolhair:...would be worth quite a bit, there are some quality things on auction and seeing as its for such a worthy recipient, im sure they will get some cracker bids...congrats to everyone involved :D

On a side note, this proves the dangers of tackling high...sure there is probably a small probability of injuries resulting from head high tackles as severe as David's, but still i now believe more than ever that these tackles should be avoided...i wouldn't like to be that 1 out of ????, that is severely injured....i agree Burgs, re union rallying to the cause!! :thumbsup: