sport news Gareth Edwards Barbarians shirt expected to raise £200,000 at auction trends now
Sir Gareth Edwards declared it 'the end of an era' after the Wales, Lions and Barbarians great confirmed a collection of his playing shirts will be put up for auction.
The main attraction among the group of jerseys is the one Edwards wore when he scored what is widely renowned as the best try ever seen against New Zealand in 1973.
Edwards' decision to dispense with some of the best memories of his career will come as a shock to the rugby world, but the former scrum-half has denied he is doing so for financial gain.
Sir Gareth Edwards is set to auction off a collection of his match worn shirts, including the Barbarians jersey in which he scored a memorable try against New Zealand in 1973 (centre)
Edwards plays a pass during the match between the Barbarians and New Zealand in 1973
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'It's not sad, but it's the end of an era. I don't need physical things for the memories I've got. They're all in the mind,' Edwards told Sportsmail.
'I'm not selling the shirts because I need any money. It will be for the benefit of my children and grandchildren. The money will benefit certain charities and the family.'
Edwards' shirt collection will be auctioned at Rogers Jones Auctioneers & Valuers at Cardiff on February 24, the day before Wales meet England in round three of the Six Nations.
Edwards is putting 30 items of memorabilia from his career up for auction
It is estimated that Edwards' 1973 Barbarians shirt will be sold for a sum in the region of £150,000 to £200,000, although the final amount could well exceed that figure.
The current world record for a rugby shirt sold at auction is £180,000.
Dave Gallaher's New Zealand shirt from the 1905-06 tour of the United Kingdom, France and the USA was sold for that amount by Rogers Jones.
That was a one-off item, but Edwards' remarkable collection is truly unique.
Alongside the Barbarians shirt, there is also his Lions jersey from the famous tour of South Africa in 1974 and tops from his rivals from other countries from down the years.
Ben Rogers Jones, from Rogers Jones, said: 'It's hugely exciting. When you
