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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
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.