Second World War rugby ball

This deflated rugby ball was used in a game between 19th Battalion, Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force (2NZEF), and 1st Battalion, Welsh Regiment, in Egypt on 6 April 1940.

At the time 19th Battalion were champions of the New Zealand Division and holders of the Freyberg Cup. The game attracted a large crowd of servicemen and a description was broadcast to England and New Zealand. A hard, willing contest was won by the New Zealanders 11-9.