How did the rugby ball evolve?

Answer 1

William Gillbert and Ricgard Lindon were shoe makes in the 1800's. It was then they turned their skills to the making of balls for Rugby school. By the 1850's William Gilbert and Richard Lindon, were the two main suppliers of the pig's bladder & leather clad balls to the boys of Rugby School.

Gilbert is still one of the main sullpiers of rugby balls world wide.

It was the shape of the pigs bladder which is said to have given rise to the known shape of the rugby ball. However, in the earliest days the ball was more PLUMB shape than you see today . The balls also varied considerably in size in the beginning depending upon how large the pig's bladder was at the time.

Then a decison by the sports governing body made the ball dimentions and shape standard butv it did not get in to the rule books until 1892:

finally in 2004 IRB Law 2 states:
The ball must be oval and made of four panels.
Length in line 280 - 300 millimeters
Circumference (end to end) 740 - 770 millimeters
Circumference (in width) 580 - 620 millimeters
Material: Leather or suitable synthetic material. It may be treated to make it water resistant and easier to grip.
Weight: 410 - 460 grams
Air pressure at start of play: 65.71-68.75 kilopascals, or 0.67-0.70 kilograms per square centimeter, or 9.5-10.0 lbs per square inch

The history of the humble rugby ball.........