Rugby League Memorabilia | Collectibles & Collectors Items

Sporting memorabilia is by far one of the most popular categories for collectors' world wide. With ever-changing team kits, players being bought and sold, and new league champions every year, it makes sense that there a large number of things to keep hold of. Collecting memorabilia for any sports team is naturally that little bit easier if you live locally, as fans tend to support their local or home teams and there should be a wealth of memorabilia nearby. However, if you don't happen to live near your team or if you're after something a little bit more specialised, then the best place to improve your collection is easily the internet, and more specifically, the Classifieds.

Rugby
Rugby is a good example of the types of sporting memorabilia available online, simply because of the boost in popularity after the success of the English rugby team in 2003. Because it is also a sport that is divided into two factions: rugby league and rugby union, the level of competition between the two is more likely to create loyalty amongst fans who want to show this by collecting memorabilia

Although Rugby League is played in more than thirty countries, it is most commonly played in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, France and Papua New Guinea. This could be worth remembering when looking to buy or sell memorabilia. In the UK it is most popular in the northern counties of Yorkshire, Lancashire and Cumberland where the game has thrived for many generations; but this doesn't limit its popularity world-wide. The advantage of having access to online websites that sell privately is that their scope for audiences can be international. Essentially the internet can bring together communities of fans from all over the globe.

League vs. Union
Whilst rugby union remains the more popular form of rugby worldwide, in some instances this can make rugby league memorabilia more valuable, since it is rarer. As with most sports, players will have particular team colours and accessories to go with it, such as scarves or hats, and these too can have a particular value if they are sold in bulk. Any item of kit that has been worn by a player, particularly more successful players, will be worth something to someone, and as morbid as it may sound, these also increase in value when that person dies. However, again be aware that this is more likely to be the case in rugby union rather than rugby league, as union players have a more prominent public profile.

Showing allegiance to rugby league teams is often made tangible by collecting league memorabilia, so it is always worth keeping a look out to see if anyone is interested in buying what you might have lying around the house, even if you're not a particularly avid fan.

Collectors' Items
Whether it is vintage or contemporary items a collector might be looking for, classified sites are a great place to begin. Particular memorabilia can be produced for tournaments. Memorabilia that might be considered rare later in time are the sorts of things that become more collectable. Anything that might have been autographed by a player will have value to a collector, particularly if it is an original shirt or ball.

Though perhaps not as common as in rugby union, larger league games may still produce programmes which can likewise be collectable, as are presentations, photographs, prints and posters, books and postcards. Items which have the entire team's autographs on it may be particularly valuable, and these tend to increase in value the older they become.

Places to Shop
More popular league teams will have their own websites and may have specific items for sale. However, these will be sold at a set fee and won't increase in value for years to come, so if you're an enthusiastic collector, then you'll need to be prepared to do more research if you really want to find something special. There are specialist websites that offer collectors' items, and in most cases a customer can place a bid to buy them. Auctions are another great place to find things, but again, the cost might be raised by other competitive offers.

Classified sites on the internet are a great place to look as the seller will tend to have a set price and sell on a first-come-first-served basis. Because there are opportunities to download photographs, the buyer can assess the quality of the items they are buying before exchanging money, and of course be put in contact with someone who shares an interest in the sport. Remember that a seller is less likely to accept a refund after a purchase has been made, so be sure to get exactly what you are paying for. If you're not sure what the going rate for a particular item should be, you can easily compare it to a similar item from a different sport that might be on offer, or get in touch with the rugby club itself and ask for their advice.