The football is round to promote a more fluid game and accurate passes, while the rugby ball is oval to allow better control during passes and kicks.
Modern football has its roots in 19th-century English schools. At that time, it was all the rage among British students to kick a round ball. On the other hand, rugby also comes from England, but with a different history: a legend tells that in 1823, a student named William Webb Ellis allegedly caught a ball with his hands during a regular football match (not very fair play, that guy!) before running towards the opposing goal line. This originality, gradually integrated into schools, would give birth to a sport in its own right: rugby. Consequently, the distinct historical paths of these two sports explain why the shapes of their balls have also diverged significantly.
The football is spherical because this regular shape offers a predictable trajectory for the foot, ideal for accurate ground or aerial passes. It must roll easily on the grass, so a round shape is practical.
In contrast, the rugby ball, which is oval-shaped, is designed to be held against the body, tackled by players, and thrown by hand rather than kicked (although that does happen too!). Its oval shape is designed to facilitate gripping, ensure better stability during quick runs, and allow for spinning shots during kicks. Its less predictable trajectory forces players to constantly adapt.
Initially, both rugby and football balls were hand-stitched from leather around an inflatable animal bladder (often made from pig bladder). These bladders were naturally somewhat oval, which gave rugby its characteristic shape. This oval shape was also much easier to manufacture with ancient sewing techniques. For football, manufacturers quickly sought a more spherical shape to encourage consistent rolling on the ground and a predictable aerial trajectory. Once modern materials were introduced, such as synthetic rubbers and then plastic coatings, each ball solidified its appearance, with machines allowing for perfect consistency in stitching and assembly. These new materials enabled rugby to maintain its pronounced oval shape, ensuring a good grip, while the football could become even rounder, more precise, and predictable in its trajectory.
Rugby and soccer have not evolved in the same way regarding rules, and this has greatly affected the shapes of the balls. In rugby, the rules quickly encouraged handling and backward passes. As a result, the oval ball became ideal for carrying, holding against oneself, and also for passing while pivoting. Conversely, soccer early on favored playing with the foot, long passes, and precise shots: thus, a round ball was much more practical for controlling its trajectory and avoiding unpredictable bounces. Gradually, the official rules validated by the respective federations further cemented these specific forms: a round ball clearly required by FIFA for soccer, and an oval ball imposed on rugby players, with ultra precise dimensions to facilitate handling. These official differences explain today why we could never imagine Mbappé running towards the goal with a rugby ball under his arm or Dupont making a perfect pass with a round ball at his feet.
Depending on the regions and cultures, ball games have adapted to local terrains and traditions. In England, the birthplace of both sports, the round ball of soccer was popular because it was easy to make and practical to handle with the foot on the flat surfaces of cities. In contrast, rugby, which originated in the English town of the same name, used a more oval ball, similar to an inflated pig's bladder covered in leather. This oval ball was much easier to catch by hand and throw, better suited for matches played on muddy and uneven fields, common in the countryside or in traditional English schools. In the United States, a culture originally influenced by rugby, the elongated shape of the American football comes directly from this British heritage, pushed to the extreme to facilitate hand passes and spectacular receptions. Meanwhile, the cultures that adopted and popularized soccer around the world (Brazil, Continental Europe, Africa, etc.) retained the well-rounded ball, which is simpler and more intuitive, and now serves as a universal symbol of the king of sports.
The FIFA imposes precise standards on the sphericity of footballs. A difference of just a few millimeters can significantly affect the behavior of the ball during the match.
In rugby, the oval shape of the ball makes it easier to handle for passes and throws, unlike the spherical shape of a football, which is optimized to roll and bounce consistently.
The official ball used during the FIFA World Cup is traditionally rethought for each edition to improve its aerodynamics and control, and it often becomes a highly sought-after item for fans and collectors.
The rugby ball could weigh nearly 500 grams at the beginning of the 20th century, almost twice as heavy as the modern balls used today.
Local culture and regional preferences can slightly influence the size, weight, and even the materials of certain balls, particularly to accommodate specific playing habits or field conditions in different parts of the world. However, during official competitions, the regulations set by the federations are strictly enforced.
Yes, completely. The oval shape of the rugby ball makes the bounce unpredictable, encouraging a game of hand passes and strategies that are different from football. On the other hand, the round football allows for precise control with the foot, enabling specific dribbling techniques and shots.
Today, rugby and football balls often use multiple layers of synthetic rubber, latex, and special polymers that provide durability, waterproofing, and optimal aerodynamic performance.
American rugby (American football) historically derives from traditional rugby. The similarities between the balls stem from the same common ancestor, even though each sport has evolved to meet the specific demands of the game in terms of aerodynamics and the techniques used.
Yes, each sport has official international federations (such as World Rugby or FIFA) that rigorously define the dimensions, weight, and shapes of the balls to ensure fairness and consistency in global competitions.
The oval shape of the rugby ball historically comes from the pig bladders used in its early days, while the round football aims for a more consistent rebound trajectory to promote both kicking and ground play.
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