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Back in 1923 when the game was conceived the ball used was more like a football (soccer ball) However, because they used a pigs bladder for the inner tube and segmented leather sections for the outer-casing the ball was not really fully spherical. The shape frequently, especially after some use became somewhat egg shaped. IN that game the players could actually handle the ball but it required the ball carrier to retreat back toward their own team to pass the ball, if it was on the floor they could kick it ahead as we see in football today. When the games went their separate ways in circa 1870 the ball was redeveloped by Gillbert and because the ball was to be passed by hand and only occasionally kicked it became more torpedo shaped. This gave it greater flow through the air especially when spun passed (as we see scrum half doing from a set piece) Because the ball was becoming more aerodynamic the ball travelled further. When torpedo kicked (kicked off the outside edge of the boot along the length area of the ball) the ball spun at high speed and travelled through the air considerable distances and became quite accurate. The grubber kick then became a very tactical kick where the ball bounced end over end randomly making catching and running for the defender difficult. As the game has developed so has the shape of the ball to ball and optimum passing with optimum kicking. It should also be noted that a Rugby league ball is slightly smaller than that of union because they do kick less by increase hand passing a lot more.

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13y ago

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