New South Wales Rugby Union representative cap presented to Dally Messenger, 1906–07.
In the early days of rugby league, players selected for state and national teams received embroidered and tasselled caps, hence the term being 'capped'. This tradition was born of other colonial sports such as cricket and rugby union.
A player only received one cap for their career with a particular side. This cap reflects Dally Messenger's earlier career, before he switched from union to league.