The game of rugby has been played for many years.� Initially the rugby equipment and rules were not set, and tended to differ between one game and the next.�� It wasn’t until 1845 until the first set of written rules are said to have been published, by three students from the Rugby School in Warwickshire, England.� The game of rugby owes its name to this historical school, which is one of the oldest public schools in the country.�
Modern rugby balls are very distinctive.� They are easily recognisable due to their prolate spheroid shape with rounded ends and specific dimensions.� As with other rugby equipment, this has not always been the case.� Until the 1860s the ball was made from an inflated pig’s bladder inner tube encased in leather.� The size and shape of these balls may well have varied according to the pigs bladder used; players from individual areas may also have requested differing proportions.� The job of inflating a pig’s bladders was not one that many people wished to undertake.� When the bladder was still damp and pliable a clay pipe would be inserted in order to allow a person to blow it up using lung power alone.� The end of the bladder would then be tied and the whole thing cased in leather to help prevent the ball popping.� These balls were often described as ‘plum’ shaped, rounder than those used today, but certainly not spherical.�
Maybe it is not surprising that when an alternative to this method became available, it was welcomed enthusiastically.� In the 1860s rubber inner tubes became available, as did brass hand pumps.� This allowed for balls to be made into exact shapes easily, some were designed to be spherical, but the boys from Rugby School requested something very different.� Due to the uniform size and shape of these rubber ‘bladders’, the leather pieces used to cover them could be made to specific designs too – the production of rugby balls was able to speed up.
Although rugby equipment had evolved a great deal, the initial rules surrounding balls were not introduced until around 1892.� It was necessary for the ball to be hand stitched with no less than eight stitches per inch.� The weight of the ball should have been from twelve – thirteen ounces, with a length of 11 – 11� inches.� The circumference (width) was 25� - 26 inches, and the end on circumference 30 – 31 inches.� In 1931 the ball width was reduced to 24 – 25� inches and the weight increased to 13� to 15 ounces.� It is interesting to note how these differ to modern standards.
Today, ball standards and specifications vary between Rugby League and Rugby Union games.� In the 1980s, the leather casing traditionally used has been replaced on the most part by synthetic materials.� These are water proof and often have surfaces that aid grip.� As a player of rugby, or as a fan, it is fascinating to see how the game has evolved over the years.� Alongside the game, rugby equipment has also changed through time.�������
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