LA NOSTRA STORIA
From the backwoods to the world stage, we have been at the heart of rugby for 200 years.
How did we become the brand you know today?
Our story
According to legend, rugby was born in 1823 when student William Webb Ellis, with bold disregard for the rules of football, picked up a ball and began running. That ball was a Gilbert, made by William Gilbert—a name that has since become synonymous with the game.
For 200 years, generations of rugby players of all ages and abilities have relied on the quality and precision of Gilbert balls. Today, this enduring legacy has evolved into a range of cutting-edge products designed specifically for rugby.
From the days of William Webb Ellis and the origins of the sport to the Rugby World Cup, Gilbert's unique position remains unchanged after two centuries of excellence. Gilbert has been at the heart of rugby since 1823—a period in which its products have accompanied players who have become true legends.
Brand Information
Founded in the early 19th century by William Gilbert—a member of a renowned rugby shoemaking family—it is now proud to supply most of the world's major rugby tournaments and national teams. After the Gilbert family sold the company in 1978, it came under the control of the Grays family in 2002 and expanded its operations to include netball. It is currently headquartered in Robertsbridge, England, and remains a family-owned British business.
From the international stage of the Rugby World Cup to the suburban pitches where the heart of the game beats, we enthusiastically serve and support rugby at all levels. We are proud to have supplied the balls for every Rugby World Cup since 1995, including the 2023 edition in France. In 2016, Gilbert was the match ball of choice for rugby's return to the Olympic Games in Rio, as well as for the most recent edition in Tokyo 2020.
Building on our proud success with balls, we have recently developed an exciting, market-leading range of training clothing and kit – proudly used by the likes of Barbarian FC (clothing), England Rugby (equipment, balls), RFU match officials (clothing) and numerous clubs and schools across the UK.
We also proudly support the game’s elite athletes, including Cheslin Kolbe, Gregory Alldritt, Tomas Francis, Gabin Villiere, Francois Cros, Claudia Macdonald, and Sadia Kabeya, all of whom use Gilbert products at the highest levels of the sport.
CHI SIAMO
Our story
According to legend, rugby was born in 1823 when student William Webb Ellis, with bold disregard for the rules of football, picked up the ball and began running. That ball was a Gilbert, made by William Gilbert, and since then that name has become synonymous with the game.
For 200 years, generations of rugby players of all ages and abilities have relied on the quality and precision of Gilbert balls. Today, this enduring legacy has evolved into a range of market-leading products designed specifically for rugby.
From William Webb Ellis and the origins of the sport to the Rugby World Cup, Gilbert's unique position remains unchanged after two centuries of excellence. Gilbert has been at the heart of rugby since 1823—a period in which its products have been used by many players who have become legends.
The brand
Founded in the early 19th century by William Gilbert – a member of a renowned shoemaking family from the town of Rugby – today the company is proud to supply most of the major rugby tournaments and national teams around the world.
After the Gilbert family sold the business in 1978, the company came under the control of the Grays family in 2002, also expanding into netball. It is currently headquartered in Robertsbridge, England, and remains a family-owned British business.
From the international stage of the Rugby World Cup to the suburban pitches where the heart of the game beats, we enthusiastically serve and support rugby at all levels. We're proud to have supplied balls for every Rugby World Cup since 1995 and to have also been a key player in the 2023 RWC in France.
In 2016, Gilbert was the match ball of choice for rugby's return to the Rio Olympic Games, as well as for the most recent edition in Tokyo 2020.
Building on our success with our balls, we have developed a market-leading range of training clothing and kit – proudly used by the likes of Barbarian FC (clothing), England Rugby (equipment, balls), RFU match officials (clothing), and numerous community clubs and schools across the UK.
We are also delighted to support top athletes: Cheslin Kolbe, Gregory Alldritt, Tomas Francis, Gabin Villiere, François Cros, Claudia Macdonald and Sadia Kabeya have all chosen Gilbert products to compete at the highest levels of the game.
Our mission
Founded on the values of trust, teamwork, inclusiveness, performance and passion , Gilbert is at the heart of the game, with the iconic Gilbert ball featured on rugby pitches across the world.
Today, our mission is to inspire the rugby community through market-leading products, partnerships and content.
Part of the rugby family
Gilbert is proud to be part of the great rugby family.
We've been there for some of the sport's most memorable moments.
"That goal" by the Barbarians in 1973:
“Kirkpatrick to Williams. That’s fantastic. Phil Bennett in cover, chased by Alistair Scown. Brilliant! Oh, that’s brilliant! John Williams, Pullin, John Dawes. Perfect feint! David, Tom David, halfway line. Amazing from Quinnell. That’s Gareth Edwards. A dramatic start. What a try!”
— Cliff Morgan
England's last-minute victory at the 2003 Rugby World Cup.
"There he is, coming back towards Jonny Wilkinson..."
"Go for the drop... for World Cup glory!"
— Ian Robertson
The Springboks' historic victory at the 1995 Rugby World Cup, won on home soil under the watchful eye of Nelson Mandela and an entire nation. The beginning of Gilbert's association with the RWC...
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Japan surprises the world at RWC 2015…
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Our kit's journey to Barbarian FC.
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