Webb Ellis Rugby Museum

About the museum

The museum stands in St Matthew's Street, opposite Rugby School, in the building where William Gilbert and later his nephew James Gilbert, boot and shoe makers, moved from the High Street in 1842 to expand their rugby football manufacturing business. The site has the longest continuous connection with the game of any place in the world, and rugby balls are still made there by Webb Ellis, which took over the museum's operation in 2002. Richard Lindon, another Rugby shoemaker, invented the india-rubber bladder, and between them the two men are credited with creating the modern rugby ball.

The collection was started in the early 1980s by Rodney Webb, a former England international, when he took over the running of James Gilbert Ltd. Many of the existing items were in poor repair and had to be restored before display cases could be installed. The museum's own history dates its inception to 1982, and since then clubs, schools, unions and individuals from around the world have donated items. The Barbarian Football Club has its own display room.

The collection is shown in four themed areas covering the origins of the game, the players, the game itself and the ball. Displays explain how the first balls were made from a pig's bladder and how rugby spread across the world, and include international jerseys, match programmes, a wall of club and union ties, and showcases for New Zealand, South Africa, Canada and Japan. The museum is unstaffed and visits are self-guided, and the entrance is through the Webb Ellis rugby shop.

Highlights

• Former Gilbert workshop where rugby balls have been made since 1842
• Four themed areas: the origins, the players, the game and the ball
• Barbarians display room
• International jerseys, match programmes and a tie wall
• Showcases for New Zealand, South Africa, Canada and Japan

Permanent exhibitions

• The origins – How William Webb Ellis, early football games and the first written rules at Rugby School led to the standardised game played worldwide.
• The ball – How rugby balls were first made from a pig's bladder, why they are oval, and how production became the highly technical process of today.
• International memorabilia and Barbarians display – Domestic and international jerseys, match programmes, a tie wall, a Barbarians display room and showcases for New Zealand, South Africa, Canada and Japan.

Founded

1982

Operated by

Webb Ellis Ltd

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Entry is free according to Rugby Borough Council's town guide listings; the museum website does not mention a charge. The Rugby Weekend Pass offers a Rugby Town Guide tour that includes the museum and a ball-stitching experience.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Wheelchair access is to the rear of the museum.

Kids & families

Getting there & parking

The museum is opposite Rugby School in Rugby town centre.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

The museum is entered through the Webb Ellis shop, which sells rugby gifts such as T-shirts, replica jerseys, cufflinks, glassware, leather balls and spirits.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit