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Rugby · Interesting Facts

Chapter 5: Equipment & Technology

10 parts · 10 tests · 100 facts · updated 28 October 2026 · markdown

The things rugby is played with and the technology around it: Lindon's ball, Gilbert, the Webb Ellis Cup, Canterbury and the jersey, smart mouthguards, the first floodlit match, Wales's cold chambers, pitches and roofs, the smart ball and a classic video game.

5.51Richard Lindon's Ball

A bootmaker opposite Rugby School, a rubber bladder and a brass pump.

Test 1Richard Lindon's ballTake a test

  1. The bladder was inflated through the stem of a clay pipe.

    Source: World Rugby Museum, 'The evolution of the rugby ball' (worldrugbymuseum.com); Our Warwickshire, 'Richard Lindon: rugby's forgotten innovator' · recall

  2. Infected bladders put her health at risk; her death was later linked to the work.

    Source: World Rugby Museum, 'The evolution of the rugby ball' (worldrugbymuseum.com); Our Warwickshire, 'Richard Lindon: rugby's forgotten innovator' · recall

  3. Rubber bladders made balls far more regular.

    Source: World Rugby Museum, 'The evolution of the rugby ball' (worldrugbymuseum.com); Our Warwickshire, 'Richard Lindon: rugby's forgotten innovator' · recall

  4. He is said to have based it on a large ear syringe.

    Source: World Rugby Museum, 'The evolution of the rugby ball' (worldrugbymuseum.com); Our Warwickshire, 'Richard Lindon: rugby's forgotten innovator' · recall

  5. Making a big brass version gave him a pump for rubber bladders.

    Source: World Rugby Museum, 'The evolution of the rugby ball' (worldrugbymuseum.com); Our Warwickshire, 'Richard Lindon: rugby's forgotten innovator' · recall

  6. It faced the school's quadrangle, and the boys were his customers.

    Source: World Rugby Museum, 'The evolution of the rugby ball' (worldrugbymuseum.com); Our Warwickshire, 'Richard Lindon: rugby's forgotten innovator' · recall

  7. Others were free to copy his ideas.

    Source: World Rugby Museum, 'The evolution of the rugby ball' (worldrugbymuseum.com); Our Warwickshire, 'Richard Lindon: rugby's forgotten innovator' · recall

  8. The pig bladder, then Lindon's rubber of the 1860s, then the synthetic balls of the late 20th century.

    Source: World Rugby Museum, 'The evolution of the rugby ball' (worldrugbymuseum.com); Our Warwickshire, 'Richard Lindon: rugby's forgotten innovator' · recall

  9. One problem led to the next idea.

    Source: World Rugby Museum, 'The evolution of the rugby ball' (worldrugbymuseum.com); Our Warwickshire, 'Richard Lindon: rugby's forgotten innovator' · recall

  10. It was too tough to blow up by mouth, so a pump came with it.

    Source: World Rugby Museum, 'The evolution of the rugby ball' (worldrugbymuseum.com); Our Warwickshire, 'Richard Lindon: rugby's forgotten innovator' · applied

5.52Gilbert

A shoemaker's shop beside Rugby School that became the World Cup's ball maker.

Test 1GilbertTake a test

  1. He made balls for Rugby School as a sideline at first.

    Source: Gilbert Rugby, 'The Gilbert rugby story' (gilbertrugby.com); Coventry Telegraph, 'How Gilbert had a ball' · recall

  2. The year of the Webb Ellis legend.

    Source: Gilbert Rugby, 'The Gilbert rugby story' (gilbertrugby.com); Coventry Telegraph, 'How Gilbert had a ball' · recall

  3. A stone's throw from the school gates.

    Source: Gilbert Rugby, 'The Gilbert rugby story' (gilbertrugby.com); Coventry Telegraph, 'How Gilbert had a ball' · recall

  4. The firm stayed in the family for generations.

    Source: Gilbert Rugby, 'The Gilbert rugby story' (gilbertrugby.com); Coventry Telegraph, 'How Gilbert had a ball' · recall

  5. He was known for his care over every ball.

    Source: Gilbert Rugby, 'The Gilbert rugby story' (gilbertrugby.com); Coventry Telegraph, 'How Gilbert had a ball' · recall

  6. The South Africa tournament began the run.

    Source: Gilbert Rugby, 'The Gilbert rugby story' (gilbertrugby.com); Coventry Telegraph, 'How Gilbert had a ball' · recall

  7. The brand is now based in Robertsbridge, East Sussex.

    Source: Gilbert Rugby, 'The Gilbert rugby story' (gilbertrugby.com); Coventry Telegraph, 'How Gilbert had a ball' · recall

  8. 1823, 1842, 1877 and 2002.

    Source: Gilbert Rugby, 'The Gilbert rugby story' (gilbertrugby.com); Coventry Telegraph, 'How Gilbert had a ball' · recall

  9. 1823, about 1862 and 1995.

    Source: Gilbert Rugby, 'The Gilbert rugby story' (gilbertrugby.com); Coventry Telegraph, 'How Gilbert had a ball' · recall

  10. Rugby is in Warwickshire, in the English Midlands.

    Source: Gilbert Rugby, 'The Gilbert rugby story' (gilbertrugby.com); Coventry Telegraph, 'How Gilbert had a ball' · applied

5.53The Webb Ellis Cup

A Victorian copy of a Georgian design, chosen for the first World Cup.

Test 1The Webb Ellis CupTake a test

  1. It is a Victorian-style piece made by Garrard and Co.

    Source: World Rugby on the Webb Ellis Cup (world.rugby); Rugby World Cup history pages · recall

  2. Garrard had the piece in its own vaults.

    Source: World Rugby on the Webb Ellis Cup (world.rugby); Rugby World Cup history pages · recall

  3. The original design dates from the 1730s.

    Source: World Rugby on the Webb Ellis Cup (world.rugby); Rugby World Cup history pages · recall

  4. It is smaller than many people expect.

    Source: World Rugby on the Webb Ellis Cup (world.rugby); Rugby World Cup history pages · recall

  5. Solid silver and gold plate.

    Source: World Rugby on the Webb Ellis Cup (world.rugby); Rugby World Cup history pages · recall

  6. Classical figures, as in the 18th-century original.

    Source: World Rugby on the Webb Ellis Cup (world.rugby); Rugby World Cup history pages · recall

  7. They wanted a Victorian rather than a Georgian piece.

    Source: World Rugby on the Webb Ellis Cup (world.rugby); Rugby World Cup history pages · recall

  8. The 1730s, 1906, the mid-1980s and June 1987.

    Source: World Rugby on the Webb Ellis Cup (world.rugby); Rugby World Cup history pages · recall

  9. 1879, 1906 and 1932.

    Source: World Rugby on the Webb Ellis Cup (world.rugby); Rugby World Cup history pages · recall

  10. London's crown jewellers.

    Source: World Rugby on the Webb Ellis Cup (world.rugby); Rugby World Cup history pages · applied

5.54Canterbury and the Jersey

Three kiwis on a badge, army uniforms and a shirt that was hard to grab.

Test 1Canterbury and the jerseyTake a test

  1. It began making woollen clothing in the Canterbury region.

    Source: Canterbury of New Zealand company history; New Zealand Rugby kit history; RFU on England's 2003 kit · recall

  2. John Lane, Pringle Walker and Alfred Rudkin.

    Source: Canterbury of New Zealand company history; New Zealand Rugby kit history; RFU on England's 2003 kit · recall

  3. Their silhouettes also spell CCC, for the Canterbury Clothing Company.

    Source: Canterbury of New Zealand company history; New Zealand Rugby kit history; RFU on England's 2003 kit · recall

  4. Its All Blacks kit came later.

    Source: Canterbury of New Zealand company history; New Zealand Rugby kit history; RFU on England's 2003 kit · recall

  5. Canterbury had made it for most of the century before.

    Source: Canterbury of New Zealand company history; New Zealand Rugby kit history; RFU on England's 2003 kit · recall

  6. A loose shirt gives a tackler something to hold.

    Source: Canterbury of New Zealand company history; New Zealand Rugby kit history; RFU on England's 2003 kit · recall

  7. The shirts became a symbol of the professional age.

    Source: Canterbury of New Zealand company history; New Zealand Rugby kit history; RFU on England's 2003 kit · recall

  8. 1904, 1915, 1999 and 2003.

    Source: Canterbury of New Zealand company history; New Zealand Rugby kit history; RFU on England's 2003 kit · recall

  9. Wool, then cotton, then today's light synthetics.

    Source: Canterbury of New Zealand company history; New Zealand Rugby kit history; RFU on England's 2003 kit · recall

  10. The year England won the title.

    Source: Canterbury of New Zealand company history; New Zealand Rugby kit history; RFU on England's 2003 kit · applied

5.55Smart Mouthguards

A mouthguard that measures every hit to the head.

Test 1Smart mouthguardsTake a test

  1. Elite competitions began using them in the HIA process.

    Source: World Rugby on smart mouthguards and the HIA (Oct 2023); Cleveland Clinic newsroom, 30 Oct 2023, on Prevent Biometrics · recall

  2. It records linear and angular acceleration from each impact.

    Source: World Rugby on smart mouthguards and the HIA (Oct 2023); Cleveland Clinic newsroom, 30 Oct 2023, on Prevent Biometrics · recall

  3. The doctors can call the player off for an assessment.

    Source: World Rugby on smart mouthguards and the HIA (Oct 2023); Cleveland Clinic newsroom, 30 Oct 2023, on Prevent Biometrics · recall

  4. Its technology came out of the Cleveland Clinic.

    Source: World Rugby on smart mouthguards and the HIA (Oct 2023); Cleveland Clinic newsroom, 30 Oct 2023, on Prevent Biometrics · recall

  5. The new women's international competition led the way.

    Source: World Rugby on smart mouthguards and the HIA (Oct 2023); Cleveland Clinic newsroom, 30 Oct 2023, on Prevent Biometrics · recall

  6. Head impacts in training count as much as those in matches.

    Source: World Rugby on smart mouthguards and the HIA (Oct 2023); Cleveland Clinic newsroom, 30 Oct 2023, on Prevent Biometrics · recall

  7. The money paid for the devices across elite rugby.

    Source: World Rugby on smart mouthguards and the HIA (Oct 2023); Cleveland Clinic newsroom, 30 Oct 2023, on Prevent Biometrics · recall

  8. October 2023, late 2023 and January 2024.

    Source: World Rugby on smart mouthguards and the HIA (Oct 2023); Cleveland Clinic newsroom, 30 Oct 2023, on Prevent Biometrics · recall

  9. Data first, then the alert, then the doctor's call.

    Source: World Rugby on smart mouthguards and the HIA (Oct 2023); Cleveland Clinic newsroom, 30 Oct 2023, on Prevent Biometrics · recall

  10. The smart mouthguard flagged a big head impact.

    Source: World Rugby on smart mouthguards and the HIA (Oct 2023); Cleveland Clinic newsroom, 30 Oct 2023, on Prevent Biometrics · applied

5.56The First Floodlit Match

Two lamps on poles in Salford, 1878.

Test 1The first floodlit matchTake a test

  1. It was more than a century before floodlit tests became normal.

    Source: Salford Now, 'On this day: Salford rugby played host to the first match under floodlights' (22 Oct 2018); Broughton and Swinton club histories · recall

  2. Just across the river from Manchester.

    Source: Salford Now, 'On this day: Salford rugby played host to the first match under floodlights' (22 Oct 2018); Broughton and Swinton club histories · recall

  3. They beat Swinton.

    Source: Salford Now, 'On this day: Salford rugby played host to the first match under floodlights' (22 Oct 2018); Broughton and Swinton club histories · recall

  4. Both clubs were near neighbours.

    Source: Salford Now, 'On this day: Salford rugby played host to the first match under floodlights' (22 Oct 2018); Broughton and Swinton club histories · recall

  5. Two 'Gramme' electric lights on poles.

    Source: Salford Now, 'On this day: Salford rugby played host to the first match under floodlights' (22 Oct 2018); Broughton and Swinton club histories · recall

  6. Roughly nine metres up.

    Source: Salford Now, 'On this day: Salford rugby played host to the first match under floodlights' (22 Oct 2018); Broughton and Swinton club histories · recall

  7. The split came in 1895, so it was simply rugby.

    Source: Salford Now, 'On this day: Salford rugby played host to the first match under floodlights' (22 Oct 2018); Broughton and Swinton club histories · recall

  8. 1878, 1895 and the late 20th century.

    Source: Salford Now, 'On this day: Salford rugby played host to the first match under floodlights' (22 Oct 2018); Broughton and Swinton club histories · recall

  9. About 8,000-10,000, about 82,000, and 109,874.

    Source: Salford Now, 'On this day: Salford rugby played host to the first match under floodlights' (22 Oct 2018); Broughton and Swinton club histories · recall

  10. A contemporary report said only half the ground was visible.

    Source: Salford Now, 'On this day: Salford rugby played host to the first match under floodlights' (22 Oct 2018); Broughton and Swinton club histories · applied

5.57Wales in the Cold

Freezing chambers in Poland and a World Cup run.

Test 1Wales in the coldTake a test

  1. They trained at an Olympic sports centre there.

    Source: Rugby365, ''Evil sauna' giving Wales the edge?'; Welsh Rugby Union on the Spała camps; Gulf News on the 2012 Gdańsk camp · recall

  2. About 100 km south-west of Warsaw.

    Source: Rugby365, ''Evil sauna' giving Wales the edge?'; Welsh Rugby Union on the Spała camps; Gulf News on the 2012 Gdańsk camp · recall

  3. Four months before the World Cup semi-final.

    Source: Rugby365, ''Evil sauna' giving Wales the edge?'; Welsh Rugby Union on the Spała camps; Gulf News on the 2012 Gdańsk camp · recall

  4. Reports gave figures from minus 130 to minus 160.

    Source: Rugby365, ''Evil sauna' giving Wales the edge?'; Welsh Rugby Union on the Spała camps; Gulf News on the 2012 Gdańsk camp · recall

  5. Short spells after long training sessions.

    Source: Rugby365, ''Evil sauna' giving Wales the edge?'; Welsh Rugby Union on the Spała camps; Gulf News on the 2012 Gdańsk camp · recall

  6. It let them train hard day after day.

    Source: Rugby365, ''Evil sauna' giving Wales the edge?'; Welsh Rugby Union on the Spała camps; Gulf News on the 2012 Gdańsk camp · recall

  7. They returned to Poland before the Six Nations.

    Source: Rugby365, ''Evil sauna' giving Wales the edge?'; Welsh Rugby Union on the Spała camps; Gulf News on the 2012 Gdańsk camp · recall

  8. June 2011, October 2011 and early 2012.

    Source: Rugby365, ''Evil sauna' giving Wales the edge?'; Welsh Rugby Union on the Spała camps; Gulf News on the 2012 Gdańsk camp · recall

  9. Train hard, then the cold.

    Source: Rugby365, ''Evil sauna' giving Wales the edge?'; Welsh Rugby Union on the Spała camps; Gulf News on the 2012 Gdańsk camp · recall

  10. Gatland led Wales to the 2011 semi-final.

    Source: Rugby365, ''Evil sauna' giving Wales the edge?'; Welsh Rugby Union on the Spała camps; Gulf News on the 2012 Gdańsk camp · applied

5.58Pitches and Roofs

Plastic fibres sewn into grass, heating under the turf and a roof that needs agreement.

Test 1Pitches and roofsTake a test

  1. It cost about £1.2 million.

    Source: England Rugby, 'Pitch perfect' and 'Over 100 years of Twickenham's hallowed turf'; National Library of Scotland Moving Image Archive; Rugby World on the Principality Stadium roof · recall

  2. They anchor the roots of the real grass.

    Source: England Rugby, 'Pitch perfect' and 'Over 100 years of Twickenham's hallowed turf'; National Library of Scotland Moving Image Archive; Rugby World on the Principality Stadium roof · recall

  3. The rest is natural grass.

    Source: England Rugby, 'Pitch perfect' and 'Over 100 years of Twickenham's hallowed turf'; National Library of Scotland Moving Image Archive; Rugby World on the Principality Stadium roof · recall

  4. Undersoil heating cables were laid soon after.

    Source: England Rugby, 'Pitch perfect' and 'Over 100 years of Twickenham's hallowed turf'; National Library of Scotland Moving Image Archive; Rugby World on the Principality Stadium roof · recall

  5. If one side said no, the roof stayed open.

    Source: England Rugby, 'Pitch perfect' and 'Over 100 years of Twickenham's hallowed turf'; National Library of Scotland Moving Image Archive; Rugby World on the Principality Stadium roof · recall

  6. A change of protocol closed the roof for all of them.

    Source: England Rugby, 'Pitch perfect' and 'Over 100 years of Twickenham's hallowed turf'; National Library of Scotland Moving Image Archive; Rugby World on the Principality Stadium roof · recall

  7. It works across the pitch row by row.

    Source: England Rugby, 'Pitch perfect' and 'Over 100 years of Twickenham's hallowed turf'; National Library of Scotland Moving Image Archive; Rugby World on the Principality Stadium roof · recall

  8. 1959, 1999, 2012 and 2025.

    Source: England Rugby, 'Pitch perfect' and 'Over 100 years of Twickenham's hallowed turf'; National Library of Scotland Moving Image Archive; Rugby World on the Principality Stadium roof · recall

  9. The fibres reach about 20 cm down.

    Source: England Rugby, 'Pitch perfect' and 'Over 100 years of Twickenham's hallowed turf'; National Library of Scotland Moving Image Archive; Rugby World on the Principality Stadium roof · recall

  10. The RFU's hybrid pitch went in that year.

    Source: England Rugby, 'Pitch perfect' and 'Over 100 years of Twickenham's hallowed turf'; National Library of Scotland Moving Image Archive; Rugby World on the Principality Stadium roof · applied

5.59The Smart Ball

A chip inside the ball that tracks every pass and kick.

Test 1The smart ballTake a test

  1. England played Scotland in Doncaster with the chipped ball.

    Source: Six Nations Rugby, 'Women's Six Nations introduce smart ball technology' (2021); World Rugby on the smart ball at the U20 Championship (2023) · recall

  2. England against Scotland.

    Source: Six Nations Rugby, 'Women's Six Nations introduce smart ball technology' (2021); World Rugby on the smart ball at the U20 Championship (2023) · recall

  3. Sensors round the stadium pick up its signal.

    Source: Six Nations Rugby, 'Women's Six Nations introduce smart ball technology' (2021); World Rugby on the smart ball at the U20 Championship (2023) · recall

  4. Enough to follow a pass or a kick in detail.

    Source: Six Nations Rugby, 'Women's Six Nations introduce smart ball technology' (2021); World Rugby on the smart ball at the U20 Championship (2023) · recall

  5. The ball's path shows whether the throw went down the middle.

    Source: Six Nations Rugby, 'Women's Six Nations introduce smart ball technology' (2021); World Rugby on the smart ball at the U20 Championship (2023) · recall

  6. It was held in South Africa.

    Source: Six Nations Rugby, 'Women's Six Nations introduce smart ball technology' (2021); World Rugby on the smart ball at the U20 Championship (2023) · recall

  7. Also kick distance and passing speed.

    Source: Six Nations Rugby, 'Women's Six Nations introduce smart ball technology' (2021); World Rugby on the smart ball at the U20 Championship (2023) · recall

  8. 2021, mid-2023 and late 2023.

    Source: Six Nations Rugby, 'Women's Six Nations introduce smart ball technology' (2021); World Rugby on the smart ball at the U20 Championship (2023) · recall

  9. From the ball to the stadium to the broadcast.

    Source: Six Nations Rugby, 'Women's Six Nations introduce smart ball technology' (2021); World Rugby on the smart ball at the U20 Championship (2023) · recall

  10. The smart ball's chip feeds the data.

    Source: Six Nations Rugby, 'Women's Six Nations introduce smart ball technology' (2021); World Rugby on the smart ball at the U20 Championship (2023) · applied

5.60Rugby on the Console

A video game named after the World Cup's great wing.

Test 1Rugby on the consoleTake a test

  1. Two years after Lomu's famous World Cup.

    Source: Codemasters and Rage Software release notes for Jonah Lomu Rugby (1997); PlayStation and Sega Saturn release records; New Zealand Rugby on Jonah Lomu · recall

  2. Codemasters published it.

    Source: Codemasters and Rage Software release notes for Jonah Lomu Rugby (1997); PlayStation and Sega Saturn release records; New Zealand Rugby on Jonah Lomu · recall

  3. A British games publisher.

    Source: Codemasters and Rage Software release notes for Jonah Lomu Rugby (1997); PlayStation and Sega Saturn release records; New Zealand Rugby on Jonah Lomu · recall

  4. It came out on three platforms.

    Source: Codemasters and Rage Software release notes for Jonah Lomu Rugby (1997); PlayStation and Sega Saturn release records; New Zealand Rugby on Jonah Lomu · recall

  5. No rugby union game had been released on them before.

    Source: Codemasters and Rage Software release notes for Jonah Lomu Rugby (1997); PlayStation and Sega Saturn release records; New Zealand Rugby on Jonah Lomu · recall

  6. He was born in Auckland to Tongan parents.

    Source: Codemasters and Rage Software release notes for Jonah Lomu Rugby (1997); PlayStation and Sega Saturn release records; New Zealand Rugby on Jonah Lomu · recall

  7. Another rugby union game.

    Source: Codemasters and Rage Software release notes for Jonah Lomu Rugby (1997); PlayStation and Sega Saturn release records; New Zealand Rugby on Jonah Lomu · recall

  8. 1995, 1997 and 2003.

    Source: Codemasters and Rage Software release notes for Jonah Lomu Rugby (1997); PlayStation and Sega Saturn release records; New Zealand Rugby on Jonah Lomu · recall

  9. 1994, 2000 and 2013.

    Source: Codemasters and Rage Software release notes for Jonah Lomu Rugby (1997); PlayStation and Sega Saturn release records; New Zealand Rugby on Jonah Lomu · recall

  10. He wore 11 for New Zealand.

    Source: Codemasters and Rage Software release notes for Jonah Lomu Rugby (1997); PlayStation and Sega Saturn release records; New Zealand Rugby on Jonah Lomu · applied

Sources

Primary/official sources only, no Wikipedia citations: World Rugby and its Hall of Fame and records, the World Rugby Museum at Twickenham, the unions' own histories (RFU, WRU, SRU, IRFU, FFR, NZR, SA Rugby, Rugby Australia), Rugby School, the clubs' and competitions' own histories, the IOC, Guinness World Records and named reputable media.

  • World Rugby Museum, 'The evolution of the rugby ball' (worldrugbymuseum.com); Our Warwickshire, 'Richard Lindon: rugby's forgotten innovator'10
  • Gilbert Rugby, 'The Gilbert rugby story' (gilbertrugby.com); Coventry Telegraph, 'How Gilbert had a ball'10
  • World Rugby on the Webb Ellis Cup (world.rugby); Rugby World Cup history pages10
  • Canterbury of New Zealand company history; New Zealand Rugby kit history; RFU on England's 2003 kit10
  • World Rugby on smart mouthguards and the HIA (Oct 2023); Cleveland Clinic newsroom, 30 Oct 2023, on Prevent Biometrics10
  • Salford Now, 'On this day: Salford rugby played host to the first match under floodlights' (22 Oct 2018); Broughton and Swinton club histories10
  • Rugby365, ''Evil sauna' giving Wales the edge?'; Welsh Rugby Union on the Spała camps; Gulf News on the 2012 Gdańsk camp10
  • England Rugby, 'Pitch perfect' and 'Over 100 years of Twickenham's hallowed turf'; National Library of Scotland Moving Image Archive; Rugby World on the Principality Stadium roof10
  • Six Nations Rugby, 'Women's Six Nations introduce smart ball technology' (2021); World Rugby on the smart ball at the U20 Championship (2023)10
  • Codemasters and Rage Software release notes for Jonah Lomu Rugby (1997); PlayStation and Sega Saturn release records; New Zealand Rugby on Jonah Lomu10