Why are rugby balls not spherical?

Question

Why are rugby balls not spherical?

Answer 1

Despite what we want it to be about the game is largely about kicking and the oval shape is a better shape for delivering long kicks from the hand as it can rifle through the air which a sphere cannot.  I supect that this also makes for more accurate kicking as you have some form of control against wind.

As said above, passing and catching are also helped by the shape so it makes for a better game.  I've tried playing rugger with a football once as a joke and you end up looking like a novice if you try to pass it.  Don't know why particulalry, I never took the time to analyse it but the rugger ball shape sure works better than a sphere.

Answer 2

Some good answers here so far.

They probably made the rugby ball an "oval" shape to distinguish it from a football.

Intially the original rugby balls wouldn't have been very easy to kick (or pass for that matter). It is only through technological advancements and fine tuning that they have become easy to kick long distances. Does anybody remember trying to kick those old leather rugby balls?? When I was a kid we still had an old one in the garage, they were useless.

Anyway the real reason rugby balls are not spherical is because they were originally made from pigs bladder. It was the pigs bladder which gave them a more oval shape.

If only William Gilbert was still alive, then we could ask him.

Answer 3

It makes it easier to pass and catch..

It also gives it a very unpredictable bounce.

Answer 4

So that they're easier to hold

Answer 5

When Webb-Ellis had picked up the ball, run with it and touched down at the far end of the pitch, he turned to the Usher in charge and said,  "What shall I do with it now Sir?" and that is how th Rugby ball became the shape it is today