Meet the makers of the Rugby World Cup match balls

History

William Gilbert (1799-1877) was the boot and shoemaker to Rugby School and started supplying balls to the school in 1923. 'Gilbert' became one of the most popular makers of rugby balls and has been making rugby balls since the game's conception. First, from hand-stitched, four-panel, leather casings and real pigs bladders to pioneering the development of the synthetic ball, Gilbert has been at the forefront of innovation in rugby ball design.

Acquired in 2002, Grays International has added to Gilbert's reputation, opening up new markets and winning a new generation of sports fans.

Sirius World Cup Match Ball

A fixture since the historic Rugby World Cup 1995, every four years Gilbert makes new developments on their rugby balls, becoming standard-bearers of innovation within Rugby Union. For the 2019 World Cup, they have introduced the Sirius match ball.

Inspired by the Sirius A and B stars, together they are the brightest star in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres, with Sirius uniting the Rugby world.

Unlike standard rugby balls, Gilbert has specially made a ball for each game, having to be perfect and consistent no matter the weather. Gilbert has rigorous and thorough testing phases, including being tested at their headquarters in Robertsbridge and their facilities in Japan, creating truly memorable and inspiring moments for audiences and players worldwide.

Their new Sirius Match Ball, which debuted last year in preparation for the Rugby World Cup 2019, has a unique fractal spiral pattern across the ball, strikingly coloured geometric shapes new grip with star-shaped pimple patterns and G-XV rubber compound surface on the ball. It is finally capped with iconic RWC feature highlighting Japan unique role as the first Asian nation to host the competition.