“ In 1823 William Webb Ellis first picked up the ball and ran with it on the playing fields of Rugby School thus originating the distinctive feature of the rugby game.”
The Webb Ellis company was set up by Rod & Lawrence Webb just 50 yards away from Rugby School,where the game began. The company’s headquarters are steeped in history – a place where the original rugby ball was manufactured and now the home of the Webb Ellis Rugby Football Museum.
With a multitude of artefacts from across the world ,the museum itself is a treasure trove for the true rugby fan . Enthusiasts can see the original Webb Ellis Cup, Charter Day Balls,1851 Leather Stands, and a vast amount of rugby memorabilia.A special Barbarians FC section houses shirts, programmes,balls & ties to pay homage to the world’s most famous rugby club
Company Milestones
From 2003-2010 , Webb Ellis was selected as the Official Ball Supplier to the Heineken Cup & Challenge Cup – the tournament which serves as the pinnacle for European club rugby.
48 of the best teams annually playing with a Webb Ellis ball, the product was well and truly introduced to a worldwide audience, and used by thousands of professional players.
Following on from the successful launch of the Webb Ellis match ball into the Heineken Cup, Webb Ellis became the official ball supplier to the Welsh Rugby Union. Between the years 2005-2012, Wales won two 6 Nations Grand Slams using a Webb Ellis ball.
In 2008, the Webb Ellis Match ball was selected as the official ball for the IRB Junior World Championship – the first annual tournament bringing together the best U20 teams from around the world. Hosted in Wales, New Zealand defeated England in the final at the Liberty Stadium in Swansea.
In 2019, Webb Ellis signed an exclusive agreement with D1A Rugby, USA, to become their sole ball supplier, and for D1A Rugby to exclusively distribute Webb Ellis apparel & equipment for the USA territory.
1823 to 2023 – 200 Years of Rugby
2023 marks 200 years since Webb Ellis first picked up the ball and ran with it . This landmark for the game is also coupled with a Rugby World Cup tournament to be staged in France.With unprecedented media coverage during the whole year of 2023 , Webb Ellis have lined up exclusive ranges and product promotions to take advantage of both RWC 2023 and the celebration of rugby’s bicentenary.