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Christchurch man selling off his rugby jersey collection a decade after former All Black Chris Jack started hobby

Crusaders fan is selling his 200-plus collection of Crusaders jerseys

Mike Bensley with some of his jersey collection at Malvern Park, Christchurch. Photo: James Munro/ITCH.NZ

His collection includes 220 Crusaders jerseys, many of them worn, as well as Canterbury, All Blacks, Highlanders and Chiefs jerseys.

Among his collection, which until recently he had on display in his garage, is the jersey prop Joe Moody donned during his 100th game for the Crusaders, played against the Hurricanes in 2021.

“That’s a stand out. I’ve got Mark Hammett’s 1999 black jersey. I’ve got a few of those 1999 jerseys, they’re super rare.”

This signed Mark Hammett jersey from 1999 is one of Mike Bensley’s favourites in is collection. Photo: James Munro/ITCH.NZ

Not as rare as jerseys from 1996, the inaugural season of Super Rugby, which Bensley conceded had been notoriously difficult to get his hands on.

He does, however, have 1997 and 1999 Aaron Flynn jerseys, while the Marika Vunibaka and Daniel Carter jerseys are sure to be popular, as will the Brad Thorn signed jersey from 2009.

Then there’s the red and white striped Pike River tribute jersey the Crusaders wore against the Waratahs in Nelson in 2011, the year after 29 men were killed in the mining disaster on the West Coast.

More recently, Bensley has the jerseys Sam Whitelock and Owen Franks donned during the 2017 Super Rugby final, when the Crusaders beat the Lions in Johannesburg to become the first team to cross the Indian Ocean and win a decider.

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