Collector’s Note
Struck before the outbreak of global conflict and later engraved for a wartime champion, this 1941 medal bridges peacetime manufacturing with the harsh realities of the Second World War. It captures how Allied soldiers utilized rugby not merely as a pastime, but as a vital morale-building pursuit amidst the campaigns of North Africa.
Design & Craftsmanship
The obverse features a central motif depicting a crown above the sphinx—the traditional emblem of the British Army in Egypt—flanked and surrounded by a laurel wreath symbolizing victory and military honor. The reverse features a plain field housing a hand-engraved dedication reading “L.B. LIDDLE, 1941 – N.Z.E.F. Rugby Championship”. Housed in its original fitted presentation box, the circular medal includes a plain edge and medal alignment.
“Crafted from sterling silver (.925) by silversmiths ‘N.A & A.F.I’ with a Birmingham assay hallmark ‘O’ dating to 1938, this award measures 41 mm in diameter and weighs 26 grams.”
Historical Significance & Context
Issued in 1941 to recipient L.B. Liddle of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force (N.Z.E.F.), this medal reflects the active rugby culture maintained by New Zealand troops stationed in Egypt as part of the British Eighth Army. Although the blank medal blanks were struck prior to the war, they were repurposed during the conflict to honor victors in official military sports tournaments, demonstrating the enduring role of sport in sustaining camaraderie and resilience during wartime deployments.
Looking Ahead
The Rugby Coin Museum remains committed to expanding its international collection, documenting significant discoveries, and creating new opportunities for collaboration with museums, collectors, sporting organizations, and supporters worldwide.
