The client

Gilbert Rugby

The challenge

Gilbert Rugby hoped to win the contract to become the official supplier of rugby balls to the 2007 Rugby World Cup.

What we did

The company was keen to demonstrate their ongoing commitment to development and improvement and asked our Centre for Sport and Exercise Science to help them create an aerodynamic simulation as part of their presentation to the International Rugby Board (IRB).

The centre's specialist computational fluid dynamics (CFD) unit gave them an insight into differences in aerodynamic performance between their range of top end balls and potential future balls, giving Gilbert an edge over increasing competition.

The results

Gilbert Rugby won the contract, and their balls were used in the prestigious 2007 Rugby World Cup.

They say

'Dr John Hart produced an excellent set of simulations and analysis under tight timescales. The work provided was used to enhance our tender to the IRB to become the official ball supplier to the 2007 World Cup, which was ultimately successful.'

Ian Savage, research and development engineer, Gilbert Rugby