Type Privately held company Area served Worldwide | Founded 1823 (1823) | |
Industry Sports equipment
Rugby union equipment Founder William Gilbert (rugby) Headquarters Robertsbridge, United Kingdom | ||
Gilbert is a sports equipment manufacturing brand, specialising in rugby union and netball.
Contents
History
The company was established by William Gilbert, a cobbler, in 1823, who along with his nephew, James, developed footballs for the neighbouring Rugby School. In 2002, after experiencing financial difficulties following a management buyout, Gilbert was purchased by Grays International.
Gilbert have supplied an unprecedented 6 Rugby World Cups in a row; starting with in 1995 in South Africa; Wales in 1999; Australia in 2003; France in 2007; New Zealand in 2011 and England in 2015.
Gilbert was the official ball supplier of the Rugby World Cup 2015, and is the current long-standing official rugby ball of England, Wales, Scotland, Australia, South Africa, France, Italy, Argentina, and the International Federation of Netball Associations. Gilbert is also the official ball supplier of the ANZ Championship, the biggest netball competition in the world and also the official supplier of the Netball World Championships. Their products include the Gilbert Synergie rugby ball.
In September 2014, Gilbert Rugby launched the Match-XV match ball. The Match-XV ball has been developed specifically for Rugby World Cup 2015, in England. The Match-XV match ball will be used throughout the Aviva Premiership English Premiership (rugby union), Top 14 and by all Gilbert-sponsored National Unions in the test matches in November 2015.
Sponsorships
The following teams, associations and players wear uniforms and equipment provided by Gilbert: