This week there was a rather sad news story where one of the 1995 Rugby World Cup winners sold his gold medal on auction. Unfortunately back in 1995 the game of rugby was still an amateur sport and only changed becoming professional shortly after that event.
The rugby players of that generation never really saw much money except through who they were would have helped land better job opportunities. I played rugby around that time and there was some money in the game for the fortunate few. I can remember receiving pay packets tucked into your shoes with your kit in the changing room after each match. That back in those days was worth around $50 so more about covering your entertainment expenses in the club house after the match.
Most of the provincial unions looked after their players by taking out investment policies which came due when the players retired. The various rugby unions would pay in the monthly contribution required and this way the players were financially rewarded even if it nothing in todays value.
I know what this player must be feeling as I am presuming he is of a similar age to myself or slightly older. When the sport turned professional I had a few options, but literally had 5 years to make hay and the risks were too high. Remaining in the sport by becoming a referee was the option I selected and it took me 5 years to get to that decision. Unfortunately after two years I suffered a back injury which curtailed that dream as I was one of two referees in the UK being fast tracked by the England Rugby Union. Both of us had agreed to turn professional and was literally 12 months away from blowing the Premiership. Life certainly sucks and life would be very different for myself these days.
R62.5K or $4K is very cheap and whoever purchased this got a bargain even though it would hold no personal or emotional memories to the new owner. As a sports fan I would rather help or assist the player than purchase the medal and maybe that is just me on how I think. Just think having to sell off your most cherished possession so you can live and pay bills.
The Rugby World Cup winner who sold his medal received around $4K which is nothing compared to the real emotional attachment value this would have. The ex player obviously needs the money and times must be tough. Unfortunately the gold medals are not pure gold and are normally made from various alloys including silver and brass before being gold plated. This medal that sold for $4K is a steal as I have never heard of any other medals coming to market and to my knowledge is the first one to do so.
The Olympic gold medals are made out of 92.5% silver before plated in gold and thus have more financial value than most other medals. On a rarity level I would suggest a Rugby World Cup medal is right up there as there would be fewer handed out compared to the number of gold medals awarded in the Olympics.
If we look at scrap values for the various sporting trophies very few hold any type of monetary value even if they are considered "priceless" due to the historic value they hold.
Top of the list is the FIFA Football World Cup trophy having a scrap value in the $280K region. The Indianapolis 500 trophy having an estimated scrap value of only $37K. These trophies are obviously worth far more than just what the metal value has as someone has to make them.
The Americas Cup which is the prestigious sailing trophy dates back to 1848 and is insured for the value in the region $10 million. The scrap value of this trophy is just over $11K and why sentiment and what the trophy stands for is where the real value lies.