We have been at the heart of rugby for 200 years.
According to legend, rugby was born in 1823 when schoolboy William Webb Ellis, in elegant disregard of the football rules of the time, picked up the ball and ran with it. It was a Gilbert ball, made by William Gilbert — and ever since, our name has been inseparable from the game.
For 200 years, generations of players of all ages and skill levels have relied on the quality and precision of Gilbert rugby balls. Today, that historic heritage extends across a leading range of rugby products designed specifically for the sport.
From the origins of rugby to the Rugby World Cup, Gilbert’s unique position remains unchanged after two centuries of excellence.
Founded in the early 19th century by William Gilbert — from a renowned family of shoemakers based in Rugby — the brand is now proud to supply the majority of the world’s leading rugby tournaments and nations. After the Gilbert family sold the business in 1978, the company came under the ownership of the Grays family in 2002 and later expanded into netball. Headquartered in Robertsbridge, England, the company remains an independent British family-owned business to this day.
From the international stage of the Rugby World Cup to grassroots clubs where the heart of the game beats strongest, we are proud to support rugby at every level. Gilbert has supplied the match balls for every Rugby World Cup since the 1995 tournament and will once again be at the centre of the action for the 2025 Rugby World Cup in England.
Building on our success in rugby balls, we have recently developed an innovative, market-leading range of apparel and training equipment — proudly used by the French national team (equipment and balls), FFR referees (apparel), and many clubs across France.
We are also proud to support elite athletes including Grégory Alldritt, Gabin Villière, François Cros, and Charlotte Escudero — all of whom use Gilbert products at the highest level of the game.
Built on strong values of trust, teamwork, inclusivity, performance, and passion, Gilbert is at the heart of the game, with our iconic rugby ball seen on pitches around the world.
Today, our mission is to inspire the rugby community through our products, strong partnerships, and engaging content.
Gilbert is proud to be part of the global rugby family.
We have been there for some of the greatest moments in rugby history.
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