Thirty years before Harry Gray (Henry John Gray) set-up in Cambridge; William Gilbert was the boot and shoemaker to a Rugby School, operating from a small shop in which Grays still manage as a sports store today. Gilbert was supplying balls to the school in 1823 when William Webb Ellis picked up the ball, ran with it and the game of Rugby Football began. The Gilbert name has been synonymous with rugby ever since, with technological developments, change in rules, and the supply to leading national teams. Gilbert began exporting balls to Australia in the 1880’s and years later the Gilbert Xact ball was the Official Ball for the 2003 Rugby World Cup in Australia, having developed a new ball for each world cup since 1995. Gilbert has been the Official Match Ball of the ‘Super 14’ competition since its inception and is the Official Ball of the Waratahs, Reds and Brumbies.
