History of The Sky Blue Jersey
New South Wales state sporting colour is famous throughout Australia. Until 1885 the NSW side wore 'heather green' which was the official colour of the Southern Rugby Football Union (later NSWRU). The jersey also included a white southern cross across the chest.
By 1887 the NSW team was wearing red scarlet jerseys which they appear to have used up to 1891. The choice of red is seemingly based upon following the colour of the Wales jersey, as the badge included a dragon symbol.
In 1892 the NSWRU decided to wear jerseys of 'Cambridge blue' - though the source of the inspiration for colour choice was not recorded. The likely reason was that the Queensland, or Northern Union had adopted a dark blue jersey similar to the dark blue of Oxford University, and so a natural opposition strip was that of Cambridge's light blue. They may also have followed the lead of the NSW cricket team who wore light blue shirts (all white clothing was not yet custom in cricket).
By 1897 the playing strip was specified as: "navy-blue pants, light-blue jersey" and the colour scheme has remained in place ever since.
Read more about this topic: Rugby Union In New South Wales
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