Heritage Series: "Legends Who Chose Gilbert and Defined Rugby"

Every great moment in rugby has a few things in common. A player who refuses to be ordinary. A crowd holding its breath. And, more often than not, a Gilbert ball at the centre of it all.

For more than 200 years, Gilbert has been part of the game's biggest stories, from a schoolboy's run at Rugby School to the drop goals, tries and trophy lifts that still give fans goosebumps today. In the latest instalment of our Heritage Series, we look back at the legends and moments that define rugby, and the brand that has been there for them.

1. 1823: Where the Story Starts

Long before floodlights, broadcast deals and Smart Balls, there was a boot and shoemaker on the High Street in Rugby. William Gilbert was already supplying balls to Rugby School by 1823, the year William Webb Ellis, as legend has it, picked up the ball and ran with it.

Those early balls were hand-stitched leather wrapped around inflated pig's bladders, and no two were quite the same shape. When William died in 1877, his nephew James took over, and by then Gilbert was stitching around 2,800 balls a year. The game had found its ball maker, and it has never looked back.

We still honour those roots today. Our vintage leather balls carry the laced valve and traditional markings of the originals, taking you straight back to where it all began. Explore the full Vintage Balls collection.

2. Sir Gareth Edwards and 'That Try'

27 January 1973. Cardiff Arms Park. The Barbarians against New Zealand, in front of 50,000 spectators. Within the opening minutes, a counter-attack from deep in the Barbarians' own half went through seven players before Gareth Edwards dived over in the corner. More than 50 years on, it is still talked about as the greatest try ever scored.

Today, we are proud to call Sir Gareth part of the Gilbert story through our partnership with the Sir Gareth Edwards Cancer Charity. The charity helps young people aged 15 to 35 across Wales who are living with cancer, and £5 from every charity ball sold goes straight to the cause. It is a reminder that the legends of this game leave their mark long after the final whistle.

3. Rugby World Cup: The Ball Behind the Biggest Moments

Gilbert has been the official ball of every men's Rugby World Cup since 1995. In that time, our ball has been in the hands, and on the boots, of some of the greatest names in the sport.

Rugby World Cup 1995. Ellis Park, Johannesburg. Joel Stransky's extra-time drop goal sealed a 15–12 win over New Zealand. Then Nelson Mandela, wearing François Pienaar's number 6 shirt, handed over the Webb Ellis Cup in one of sport's most powerful images.

Rugby World Cup 2003. Sydney, 22 November. With extra time almost up, Jonny Wilkinson swung his right boot and sent the Gilbert Xact ball between the posts to win it for England. Earlier in that final, Jason Robinson, whose foundation we now proudly support, had scored England's only try.

Rugby World Cup 2015. Twickenham. Dan Carter produced a masterclass in the final, landing a drop goal and a long-range penalty as New Zealand beat Australia 34–17 to retain their title. It was a fitting farewell to Test rugby for one of the finest fly-halves the game has ever seen.

4. The Red Roses and a Record-Breaking Final

Gilbert has supplied the match ball for every Women's Rugby World Cup since the very first tournament in 1991. Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 was the biggest yet. On 27 September 2025, a world record crowd of 81,885 packed into Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, to watch England beat Canada 33–13 and lift the trophy for the third time.

Player of the Match that day was Gilbert athlete Sadia Kabeya. Away from the pitch, Sadia has helped shape the future of the game too. Working with our team, she developed the Air Headguard – Satin, lined with satin to protect afro and curly hair from friction and breakage. It is a small change with a big impact, so no player has to choose between protection and looking after their hair.

Find the right fit for your game in our full Headguards range.

5. Today's Legends: Kolbe, Alldritt and Beyond

Ask the current generation why they choose Gilbert, and the answer often goes back to childhood. Two-time Rugby World Cup winner Cheslin Kolbe put it simply when he joined the Gilbert family: "The first rugby ball I ever picked up was a Gilbert."

Kolbe, Grégory Alldritt and Kurt-Lee Arendse all trust the Air Headguard at the highest level, and Gilbert is the official headguard partner of both England Rugby and France Rugby. Different nations, different positions, same choice.

6. The Next Chapter: Men's Rugby World Cup 2027

The story is far from finished. Gilbert will be the official ball of Men's Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia, running from 1 October to 13 November 2027. It will be the first men's tournament to feature 24 teams. The official ball design draws on Australia's land, sea and sky, ready for a new set of heroes to write their names into history. Our partnership with World Rugby now runs until 2033.

Get ready for Australia with the Men's Rugby World Cup 2027 collection.

From William Webb Ellis to the Red Roses, the names change, but the ball at the heart of the game stays the same. Every legend starts somewhere, usually on a muddy club pitch with a Gilbert ball in hand. Whose name will be next?

Gilbert Is Rugby.