Editing Football (ball) (section)

== Rugby football ==
{{main|Rugby ball}}
Until 1870, rugby was played with a near spherical ball with an inner-tube made of a pig's bladder. In 1870 [[Richard Lindon]] and Bernardo Solano started making balls for [[Rugby School|Rugby school]] out of hand stitched, four-panel, leather casings and pigs' bladders. The rugby ball's distinctive shape is supposedly due to the pig's bladder, although early balls were more plum-shape than oval. The balls varied in size in the beginning depending upon how large the pig's bladder was.<ref>Simon Hawkesley. [https://web.archive.org/web/20070311213720/http://www.richardlindon.com/ Official Richard Lindon Site]. Retrieved 7 August 2008.</ref> Because of the pliability of rubber the shape gradually changed from a sphere to an egg. In 1892 the [[Rugby Football Union|RFU]] endorsed ovalness as the compulsory shape. The gradual flattening of the ball continued over the years.<ref name="BMA">[https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2006/feb/05/rugbyunion.features Blood, mud and aftershave] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170305011036/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2006/feb/05/rugbyunion.features |date=5 March 2017 }} in [[The Observer]] Sunday 5 February 2006, Section ''B is for Ball'' by Oliver Price</ref>
The introduction of synthetic footballs over the traditional leather balls, in both rugby codes, was originally governed by weather conditions. If the playing surface was wet, the synthetic ball was used, because it wouldn't absorb water and become heavy. Eventually, the leather balls were phased out completely.

===Rugby league===
[[File:steedenfootball.jpg|thumb|[[Steeden]] football as used in [[rugby league]]]]

[[Rugby league]] is played with a prolate spheroid shaped football which is inflated with air.<ref name="RLIF-ILG-2004-p8">{{cite web |author= |year=2024 |title=Section 3: The ball |url=https://intrl.sport/uploads/docs/international-rugby-league-laws-of-the-game-2022%20%283%29.pdf |access-date= |work=2024 INTERNATIONAL LAWS OF THE GAME WITH NOTES ON THE LAWS |publisher=International Rugby League |page=}}</ref> A referee will stop play immediately if the ball does not meet the requirements of size and shape.<ref name="RLIF-ILG-2004-p8"/> Traditionally made of brown leather, modern footballs are synthetic and manufactured in a variety of colours and patterns. Senior competitions should use light-coloured balls to allow spectators to see the ball more easily.<ref name="RLIF-ILG-2004-p8"/> The football used in rugby league is known as "international size" or "size 5" and is approximately {{convert|27|cm|in|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|60|cm|in|abbr=on}} in circumference at its widest point. Smaller-sized balls are used for junior versions of the game, such as "Mini" and "[[Mod league|Mod]]". A full size ball weighs between {{convert|383|and|440|g|oz|abbr=on}}.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}} Rugby league footballs are slightly more pointed than rugby union footballs and larger than American footballs.{{fact|date=May 2025}}

The Australasian [[National Rugby League]] and [[Super League]] use balls made by [[Steeden]]. Steeden is also sometimes used in Australia as a noun to describe the ball itself.{{fact|date=May 2025}}

===Rugby union===
The ball used in rugby union, usually referred to as a rugby ball, is a prolate spheroid essentially [[ellipse|elliptical]] in profile. Traditionally made of brown leather, modern footballs are manufactured in a variety of colours and patterns. A regulation football is {{convert|28|-|30|cm|in|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|58|-|62|cm|in|abbr=on}} in circumference at its widest point. It weighs {{convert|410|-|460|g|oz|abbr=on}} and is inflated to {{convert|65.7|-|68.8|kPa|psi|1|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rugby365.com/Laws_And_Referees/The_Laws/story_214.shtml |title=Rugby Union: Law 2 – The ball |date=15 January 2007 |access-date=30 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070115054533/http://www.rugby365.com/Laws_And_Referees/The_Laws/story_214.shtml |archive-date=15 January 2007 }}</ref>

In 1980, leather-encased balls, which were prone to water-logging, were replaced with balls encased in synthetic waterproof materials.<ref name="BMA"/> The [[Gilbert Synergie]] was the match ball of the [[2007 Rugby World Cup]].