Match balls Canterbury
Our Canterbury page showcases match balls from the New Zealand brand when they are available, along with its history that began in the province of Canterbury in 1904 and our tips for choosing a competition ball suited to your age, your pitch, and your position, making it last from one championship to another.
The match ball, by Canterbury.
Founded in 1904, the brand that dressed the All Blacks
Canterbury was established in 1904 in the Canterbury province of New Zealand, when John Lane, Pringle Walker, and Alfred Rudkin began making woollen clothes in Christchurch. After making uniforms during World War I, the brand outfitted the All Blacks for over seventy-five years, until 1999. It has thus been part of the core of amateur New Zealand rugby history. Since 2012, it has been part of the British group Pentland, and it designs textiles, protection gear, and balls for clubs and teams.
The other brands
Match balls also come from:
All match balls are gathered on the match balls page.
Read the technical sheet of a match ball
Before buying a match ball, three details deserve attention. The first is size: size five is standard in senior competitions, while smaller sizes are meant for youth categories. The second concerns grip: the more numerous and finer the pimples, the more the ball sticks to the fingers, an advantage for halves and backs who make quick passes. The third touches on compliance: a match ball must meet World Rugby rule two, which sets dimensions, weight, and pressure, ensuring a consistent trajectory from one ball to another.
From match to training, the second life of the ball
A competition ball doesn’t last forever. Played every weekend, it gradually loses its pimples due to friction on the grass and repeated catches; its bladder relaxes and pressure drops more quickly. When the touch becomes smooth or the shape deforms unevenly, it’s time to reserve it for training, where it will still serve for months during passing and kicking drills. Many clubs organise their stock this way: new balls for matches, older ones for training. Storing them away from heat significantly extends this dual life.
Good deals
Great bargains can be found in good deals, promotions, clearance, sales, and Black Friday. The new arrivals showcase the latest collections, and items shipped in 24h are packed and sent within 24 hours. The year's highlights unfold in a consistent order: Black Friday in late autumn, the end-of-year holidays, winter sales, French Days in spring, followed by summer sales and the back-to-school season.
Frequently asked questions
Are there match balls for youth categories?
Yes, match balls also come in size four, for players around ten to fourteen years old. They offer the same grip coating as size five, in a format suited to smaller hands.
Where does the name Canterbury come from?
From the Canterbury province on New Zealand’s South Island, where Christchurch is the main city. The brand was born there in 1904, in a region where rugby has played a central role since the nineteenth century.
Is there a specific ball for kicking?
No, kickers and clearers use the official match ball. However, they typically prefer a newer ball, well-symmetrical and inflated to high pressure, which travels further and straighter than a tired ball.
What pressure should a match ball have?
World Rugby sets the pressure between 0.67 and 0.70 kilograms per square centimetre, which is roughly 9.5 to 10 pounds per square inch. It’s measured with a gauge just before the match, as a ball loses a bit of air between matches.
How to store balls during the summer break?
They should be cleaned, slightly deflated, and kept in a dry, temperate place away from sunlight. When training resumes, they should be gradually re-inflated and those losing air closely monitored, indicating a faulty valve or bladder.
