Eastern Suburbs Lions?

[Lambretta]

The British and Irish Lions of 1899 wore a jersey that looked like this

Their 1888 version looked like this

The Eastern Suburbs RUGBY Union club was founded in 1900 and it appears they took their colours from the British and Irish Lions of the same period.

When Eastern Suburbs Rugby League team were formed they took the nickname "Tricolours" as they were Red, White and Blue. This later changed to Roosters after the successful French teams whose national flag is known as the Tricolore.

I wonder how different our history (and fan base) would be if we had become known as the Eastern Suburbs Lions?

PS. I have always preferred the hooped design to the V design and now I know why that is. It's cos I'm British innit?!

 

[Monk]

It's weird to think of the club having a different mascot, and not being known as the Chooks. Hooped jerseys are awesome though. I'm a big fan of them.

 

[bellyache]

Best colours in the world

 

[Lambretta]

That 1899 Lions jersey is f**king awesome and I'm going to look for one to wear. The Lions are touring here this year, so hopefully the stores will stock them.

I agree the colours and the design are f**king brilliant.

The Lions moniker has amazing marketing potential and I was wondering if we'd be a much more popular club if we'd have had that name? Maybe not - maybe the anti Pommie thing would have been used as well. Mind you - it didn't seem to hurt St George (admittedly he is the patron saint of Milan as well).

Just thought it was interesting that our roots came from a British background, rather than the French one I'd always believed we'd come from.

Maybe I need to get myself a Rooster tattoo just to remind me of how awesome our traditional logo is.

This (just the bird) in black ink on the inside of my arm (cos it hurts the most)

 

[Valheru]

That’s a nice little history lesson of how we got our colours right there. That 1899 jersey looks spot on.