Rugby football has its roots deep in the Middle Ages, slowly becoming a popular sport in the United Kingdom during the 1700s. Early equipment was crude and at times non-existent, leading to high injury rates. Protective gear became mandatory over the years as rugby has turned to professional play, and the evolution of materials used in the manufacture of this gear has made it safer to participate in this full-contact predecessor to American football.
Ball
In the early years of rugby, balls were made primarily of pig's bladder, giving them differing shapes and requiring frequent disposal as the pig bladder would rot. Balls were handmade by the players themselves, although the Rugby School in Cambridge began purchasing rugby balls from a man named William Gilbert. According to Gilbert-Rugby.com, the balls were hand-stitched using pig bladders until the early 1870s, when the rubber bladder was invented by Richard Lindop, eliminating the need to dispose of rugby balls as often as before. Today's rugby ball is drastically different, made from more durable materials such as rubber and plastic, and with an oval shape to control speed and distance.
Teeth
With the constant kicking and tackling involved in rugby play, it comes as no surprise that many early players lost a few teeth in the name of good sportsmanship. In 1871, rules were set for a more gentle form of rugby play to cut down on these types of injury, according to the Rugby Football History website. These rules did not completely end injuries, however, paving the way for the invention of what is known as the gum shield. According to the BBC Sport Academy, the gum shield is made of flexible rubber, and is customized for each player's teeth and gums. Players have their teeth and gums molded, and a gum shield is then cast based on the individual molds.
Head
The rugby cap was introduced in 1839 when the Rugby School players donned velvet skull caps adorned with a golden tassle in honor of the visiting Queen Adelaide, according to Rugby Football History. This sparked the humble beginnings of rugby headgear. After this grand gesture, players were honored with caps that bore their team emblem and years played as a sign of great honor for a well played game or career. Protective caps were used in the early twentieth century to protect players from injury. Ear flaps were sewn onto the caps, keeping the ears secured to the side of the players' heads, while cushioning inside the caps kept the players' heads well supported. Modern caps have followed the guidelines set forth by these early protective caps. Undergoing intense testing, modern rugby headgear is made of light plastics to withstand heavy blows to the head. All protective headgear must be inspected and approved by the International Rugby Board before it can be used.
Uniforms
Team uniforms were also brought into play on the very same day that the Rugby School players honored the Queen with velvet caps, as the players adorned themselves with white trousers and jerseys, according to Rugby Football History. Teams then began to use certain colors and logos to decorate their uniforms and separate themselves from the other players on the field. Boots were also an important factor in the history of rugby uniforms. Before teams started to form, rugby was a leisure sport played by neighbors to relieve stress. Many of the men participating wore work boots that had knobby extensions at the soles for traction. As rugby evolved, variations of these boots included steel spikes and eventually dull metal studs that minimized injury risk. Today's boots come with higher arch support and the option to add your own studs for personal playing preference, according to the BBC Sport Academy.
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