Do you know why most balls including a football are spherical yet a rugby ball is an oval shape? Initially it is thought rugby balls were made from pigs bladders which are not spherical. Rugby is a game played mostly by holding and running with and then passing the ball, therefore the ball needs to be aerodynamic and to be easy to grip. The oval shape of the ball lends itself to being held easier than a spherical shape. You also need skill to spin it in a pass. When the ball is kicked in rugby you can’t predict where it is going bounce when it lands due to its shape, which makes it more interesting although confusing as well! In football, the the ball is supposed to roll smoothly and go exactly where you direct it, which means a sphere is a better shape. So, in football, you keep the ball rolling. In rugby, you keep the ball spinning.
