Rugby Ball Buyers Guide
To help you purchase the right ball for your needs.
Rugby Ball Size Guide
There are a number of different sizes of rugby balls available. Perfect for players of different ages and developed to target and improve the development of handling skills at training. This table indicates the Gilbert rugby ball size against the appropriate age range.
Gilbert rugby balls size (approximated to the nearest mm) are demonstrated below:
Size 5 - Length 285mm, Girth 585mm
Size 4 - Length 275m, Girth 545mm
Size 3 – Length 255mm, Girth 535mm
Midi - Length 215mm, Girth 420mm
Mini – Length 160mm, Girth 315mm
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Match Balls
Gilbert Rugby Match Balls have been designed and developed with performance in mind. Due to this performance nature, match balls are more expensive than training rugby balls. Depending on the level of play, it is often common for rugby clubs, schools and players to only use match balls in pre-match team run-throughs and matches rather than in all training sessions.
Materials - Gilbert match balls are made with a higher concentration of natural rubber which enhances and improves the grip without compromising flight performance - essential for match play.
Feature - A feature that all Gilbert match balls benefit from is our patented Truflight™ valve. Positioned in seam, the way that the valve is added during production is unique to Gilbert and helps augment spin and flight during play.
Gilbert is the match ball of choice of World Rugby, South Africa, England Rugby, France Rugby, Australia, Wales, Argentina, Ireland, Scotland, Japan, USA, Canada and many more of the top Unions in the World.
Training Balls
Gilbert Rugby Training Balls have been developed with a combination of cost, quality, performance and longevity in mind, so they can withstand the rigours of a full season of training sessions.
Materials - Gilbert training balls are made with a higher percentage of synthetic rubber which makes them a more robust ball able to withstand the rigours of regular use during rugby training.
Grip - Usually, a higher percentage of synthetic rubber reduces the natural grip properties, therefore, to counteract this Gilbert have introduced a patented triangular surface grip pattern on our G-TR 4000 training balls. This represents a major step forward in grip technology on training balls and test have repeatedly shown that this new more defined pattern is harder wearing and allows players more surface area contact with the ball when handling.
All Gilbert training balls are hand stitched and benefit from our Hydratec technology which helps reduce water ingress along the seams of the ball.
Specialist Training Balls
Morgan Pass Developer - an overweighed training ball to develop wrist strength and passing distance.
Size 4.5 transition balls - available as a G-TR4000 Training Ball, the size 4.5 balls are ideal as a transition tool for players moving from size 4 balls to size 5.
Supporter Balls
A Gilbert Supporter Ball is the perfect rugby ball for memorabilia or a light hearted game of rugby at home with family and friends.
Supporter balls have different designs to the replica balls making them easy to spot, and they use a 2 ply backing material for shape retention.
Gilbert Trademarks
The coloured oval ellipses and coloured 'star shaped ends' featured on standard rugby balls is registered intellectual property of Gilbert Rugby.
All Gilbert ellipse balls carrying the oval trims synonymous with rugby, always include our renowned 'X' 'GILBERT' branding on 2 opposite panels.
You will notice on all official Gilbert ellipse rugby balls the small text The oval trim device is a registered Trademark of Gilbert Rugby.