Royal Agricultural Society Challenge Shield presented to Herbert 'Dally' Messenger by the Eastern Suburbs District Rugby Football Club with hanging chain

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Type: Presentation pieces
Date: 1908
Place: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Materials: Enamel paint, Gilded metal - non specific, Metal - non specific, Paint - non specific, Sterling silver, Velcro, Wood
Collection: Dally Messenger collection
Accession number: 2005.0024.0001

Description

The Royal Agricultural Society Challenge Shield and a hanging chain. The shield has an almost-oval mahogany backboard is painted with black enamel paint and it has three decorative semi-circular recesses in the top and bottom edges. An irregularly-shaped Sterling silver plate forms its centrepiece, and it bears the maker's mark 'STG. SIL.' engraved in a flag between those words is 'W&H'. The plate has classical scrolled edges that grasp an encompassing laurel wreath. Near the top of the plate, 'PRESENTED / BY / ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF NSW' is cast in a scroll above a silver cartouche that frames a low relief scene from a rugby match. A bronze gilded kangaroo and an emu flank a gold gilded waratah wreath below the cartouche. Within the wreath is 'N.S.W. RUGBY FOOTBALL LEAGUE / 1908' is cast in a blue enamel garter ring. In the centre of the garter ring there are three letters. 'CHALLENGE SHIELD' is cast in a separate silver scroll that forms the bottom edge to the Sterling silver plate. The scroll arches over two smaller separate plates that are mounted to the backboard. One of them is engraved 'Presented to H. H. MESSENGER. / by the / EASTERN SUBURBS DISTRICT / RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB. / as a / token of appreciation of his / CAPTAINCY.'. Twenty-four shield-shaped engraved silver plaques are also mounted to the backboard around the edges of the centrepiece. There is a football shaped plaque engraved with 'FOR COMPETITION / AMONGST 1ST GRADE CLUBS / to be won three times / Won by / EASTERN SUBURBS DIST. R.L.F.C. / H.H. MESSENGER. Capt. 1911-12-13'. On the back there are numerous wood blocks, bolts, screws and velcro tabs. The metal chain has been detached from the shield. There are two lengths of chain joined together with a loop of wire. There is a large loop on one end and a smaller loop. The individual links are tear drop shaped.

About the collection

The Dally Messenger Collection consists of the Royal Agricultural Society shield, the first premiership shield for the NSW Rugby League competition. The Shield was presented to South Sydney in 1908 and 1909; Newtown in 1910; and Eastern Suburbs 1911 -13. After winning the competition in 1913 Eastern Suburbs Club were presented the shield permanently. Eastern Suburbs then presented the shield to their star captain Dally Messenger. The shield's significance stems from its association with the establishment of a professional rugby league competition in Sydney in 1908. Rugby League is one of the dominant football codes on the east coast of Australia. The shield is also associated with one the "greats" of the game Dally Messenger. Messenger was one of the leading players who defected from Rugby Union upon the establishment of the new professional competition in 1908. Many league historians argue that his popularity as a player helped ensure the success of the new code. His contribution to the sport is still recognised today in the 'Dally M' Award for player of the year.

Read live from the Museum's Collection API (12/11/2026, 4:58:13 am). Record last updated by the Museum 2026-09-08. Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/.