The host nation have always played in the opening match of the Rugby World Cup, but another tradition will be upheld at Telstra Stadium on Friday when Australia and Argentina open the 2003 Tournament.
This is because the whistle used by referee Paul Honiss to start the much awaited Pool A match in Sydney will be the same one that has been blown to kick off every Rugby World Cup to date.
However the whistle, which is nearly 100 years old, will only be used for this purpose with Honiss then reverting to his own whistle and passing this historic piece into the hands of an official at the first line out in the match.
The whistle, which is reportedly heavier than the modern examples, normally resides at the New Zealand Rugby Museum in Palmerston North and has an interesting story all of its own to tell.
Pieces of history
For the Evans/Freethy whistle, as it is known, bears an inscription saying it was used by Gil Evans in the Test match between New Zealand and England in December 1905, a match the All Blacks won 15-0. It is not known if it was used before then.
This piece of rugby history is believed to have been used by Albert E. Freethy in the final of the 1924 Olympics in Paris when the United States beat hosts France 17-13 at the Colombes Stadium – the last time the sport of rugby union featured in the Games.
A year later Freethy blew the whistle to dismiss Cyril Brownlie in the Test between New Zealand and England at Twickenham in January 1925, making him the first player to be sent off in an international match.
The whistle has been housed in the New Zealand Rugby Museum since 16 April 1969 when they held their inaugural function, having been given by Stan Dean, who for many years was the chairman of the NZRFU and manager of the 1924/25 All Blacks.
On the toss of a coin
However the whistle is not the only piece of rugby history that will be on Honiss’ person when he walks out at Telstra Stadium, for the coin he will use for toss was also used in the infamous Twickenham Test of 1925.
The Museum website - rugbymuseum.co.nz - tells the tale that New Zealand supporter D. G. Gray lent the coin for the toss and, so excited by its use, had a rose embossed on one side and a silver fern on the other.
Honiss will actually be the second New Zealander to use the whistle at a Rugby World Cup, Paddy O’Brien having taken charge in 1999 to follow in the footsteps of Bob Fordham (1991), Jim Fleming (1991) and Derek Bevan (1995).
Each of these referees have then written a letter to the New Zealand Rugby Museum as custodians of both the coin and whistle to confirm their usage in the respective opening matches.
Rose or fern?
One of these letters, that of Scottish referee Fleming, tells an interesting tale. Fleming reports that when defending champions New Zealand and hosts England met in 1991 they did not call, simply letting the rose and fern decide who won the toss.
Museum curator Bob Luxford revealed that the whistle has been given a nominal value of $5,000, even though it is impossible to put a value on something of such historical significance unless you auctioned it, which they have no intention of doing.
“We are very proud it will be used,” explained Luxford, who revealed the exhibits are popular at the Museum with visitors always asking when the whistle is going to be used again.
“We are delighted to see something that reflects not only the origins of the game, but something that was used so long ago. I think it says something about the traditions of the game.”