Gilbert and PREM Rugby: 30 Years and Counting
Some partnerships are counted in seasons. This one is counted in generations. Gilbert has extended its partnership with PREM Rugby, taking one of English club rugby’s longest-running relationships to a landmark 30 years as official ball supplier. From title-deciding finals to era-defining tries, the Gilbert ball has been in the thick of it since 1997 — and it is not going anywhere.
1. Three decades at the heart of English club rugby
Thirty years is a long time in any sport. Players come and go, clubs rise and fall, and the game itself never stops evolving. Through all of it, one thing has stayed constant: the ball in hand has been a Gilbert.
Since first becoming official ball supplier in 1997, Gilbert has been part of the fabric of the competition through multiple generations of talent. As PREM Rugby celebrates its 30th season in 2026/27, the two brands are marking three decades side by side — a run that makes this one of the most enduring relationships in the English game.
2. The iNNOVO: the official ball of the Gallagher PREM
As part of the new deal, the Gilbert iNNOVO continues as the official match ball of the Gallagher PREM and the PREM Rugby Cup. Every match, every season, played with the most advanced ball we have ever built.
The iNNOVO is engineered to perform when it matters most. Its patented duo valve, positioned in-seam, delivers the most balanced and consistent flight of any Gilbert ball. A heavily defined pimple grip gives superior handling and water dispersion in all conditions, while the copolymer Air-loc bladder and hand-stitched, three-ply construction keep it match-ready from the first whistle to the last.
Want the same ball the pros play with? Get your hands on the official Gallagher PREM replica ball and take a piece of the competition into your own back garden.
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3. What the partnership means
The renewal has been welcomed on both sides.
Kelly Cooke, Partnerships Director at PREM Rugby, said: “Gilbert and their iconic ball will celebrate being part of the fabric of PREM Rugby for 30 years. A partnership of this length is something that both PREM Rugby and Gilbert are immensely proud of.”
Richard Gray, Commercial CEO at Gilbert, added: “For 30 years Gilbert balls have been at the centre of England’s showpiece club rugby moments — and renewing this commitment with PREM Rugby, for our longest term ever, is something we are very proud of at Gilbert.”
4. From the PREM to the world stage
As one chapter continues, another is about to begin. Gilbert is preparing to supply the official match ball for Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia, extending an association with rugby’s global showpiece that stretches all the way back to 1995.
It is the same story wherever you look. From grassroots clubs to the biggest stadiums on earth, and from the Gallagher PREM to Rugby World Cup 2027, the ball at the centre of it all is a Gilbert. Two hundred years of craftsmanship, trusted at every level of the game.
Whether you play every weekend or simply love the game, you can bring a slice of the action home. Explore the full range of official and replica rugby balls and back the competition you love.
Here’s to the next 30 years.
Enjoyed this? We’ve got plenty more on the Gilbert Rugby News Hub. From Behind the Design: Gilbert Reveals the Official Ball for Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 to 500 Days To Go Until Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027.
