Advertising has long been central to the magazine model and Rugby World is no exception – take this example from September 1971.
Featuring the split page beloved of ad sales people and less so of editors, we start with a couple of new rugby boots from Gola. The ‘Twickenham’ offers the slightly more budget version of the boot at £3.10 or you can splash out on the ‘Try’ at £5.20, ‘made on new, improved last with small square toe for accurate place kicking and protection in the scrum.’
Next, particularly for the Welsh readers, was the ‘champions tie’ from Sports Forum of Swansea. A ‘de luxe satin tie’ in blue or maroon, it was created to commemorate Wales’ victory in the Five Nations championship and was yours for just £1.
But never mind all that. The mighty Subbuteo, creators of the great table football game had moved into rugby. The set came complete with ‘live action full-back able to kick goals from any angle, scrummer device, playing cloth, set of rules.’ In the year in which the UK went decimal, Subbuteo hadn’t noticed and were advertising the game at 78 shillings – £3.90.
Catch up on the ads – and September 1971’s Rugby world – here.
