Rugby Balls vs. Footballs

Although the balls used in football and rugby are quite similar, there are some basic aspects that set them apart. The football evolved from the rugby ball, but it has some strikingly different features that are not present in the latter. To understand and develop game tactics, the players have to know the physics of their ball and how to use the unusual shape, oval instead of spherical like most other balls.

  1. Rugby History

    • In the mid-19th century, the rugby ball started to find its shape. Bootmaker William Gilbert used leather to enclose fresh pig bladders. In the 1860s, pig bladder was replaced by rubber. Around this time, the round bag of a pig bladder became a more oblong rubber "ball." In 1892, Rugby Football Union stipulated the ball be oval, and the flattening continued over the years.

    Football History

    • The ball used in American football owes its origin to rugby. They are called “pigskins” because of the early use of pig bladders. As water logging was a constant problem, weather proof synthetic materials came into use. Today, the balls are made of polyurethane, synthetic leather, laminated polyester, latex and glue, all designed to protect the ball from natural withering.

    Rugby Design

    • The official rugby union ball is oval and made of four panels, each of in-line 280 to 300 mm. The balls are made of leather or synthetic material, the latter being more in use in all levels of the professional game, serving the dual purpose of preventing water logging and enhancing grip. The rugby ball must weigh between 410 and 460 grams. Smaller balls are available for younger players and bigger balls are used as novelty pieces or souvenirs.

    Football Design

    • Footballs used in professional games are made of leather with a pebble grain texture for players to get a better grip on the ball. The leather may be stamped with the manufacturer’s name or the league’s logo. There are four panels of leather, all of which are subjected to thorough examination, before allowed in the play. At most levels of the game, white stripes along the ball are used to improve visibility.

    Shape and Size

    • Both balls are more or less oval and 11 inches long. However, the football is prolate spheroid in shape and slightly pointed at the ends whereas the rugby ball is more elliptical. This design makes the football aerodynamically efficient for forward passes. The streamlined design produces less drag on the football than rugby. As a result, the football can cut through the air in neat passes, while rugby balls tend to tumble. The Canadian football, being less pointed, has more resemblance to rugby than its American counterpart.

    The Difference in Play

    • The best way to pass a football is by an overhand pass that creates a spiral, allowing the players to incorporate more precision in their throws. It enables a football player to throw pinpoint passes from as far as 70 yards. In rugby, the passes are generally short, and underhand passes are more popular. The rugby ball develops a tendency to tumble in long flights, but its shape helps it fit right under the arm while running. Its shape also ensures that it does not roll too far.