Ram Rugby

GI

Gilbert Rugby

Gilbert makes rugby equipment, from match balls, boots and bags to body armour and benchwear. It was founded in the early 19th century by William Gilbert, boot and shoe maker to Rugby School, and legend holds that the ball William Webb Ellis ran with in 1823 was a Gilbert ball. After William died in 1877 his nephew James took over, by which time Gilbert was stitching 2,800 balls a year, and the company later exported to Australia. Gilbert is owned by Grays of Cambridge, the family-run business that also owns Grays hockey and Gray-Nicolls.

Rugby balls and training equipment

SP

Sports Direct

Sports Direct is a UK sports retailer founded in 1982 by Mike Ashley, who opened his first shop selling sporting and skiing goods in Maidenhead. It sells sports clothing, footwear, accessories and equipment in store and online, from brands such as Nike, adidas and Slazenger. It has hundreds of stores across the UK, Europe and Malaysia and is part of Frasers Group.

Sports retail

WE

Webb Ellis Rugby

Webb Ellis supplies rugby match balls, playing kit and leisure apparel to clubs, schools and rugby bodies. Its own history page says Welsh Rugby Union, the Heineken Cup, D1A and World Rugby tournaments have used its match balls, and that it has supplied apparel to regional unions and clubs. Those examples are presented as historical claims by the company, not proof that every agreement remains active. The brand's name references the rugby origin story, but the site's timeline of the sport should not be confused with the founding date of the equipment business.

Specialist sports equipment

AP

Apeks

Apeks is a British scuba diving brand known for regulators, BCDs, masks and dive wear, and is part of Aqualung. Its history page says two diving and engineering enthusiasts started it in the mid-1970s.

Scuba regulators and diving equipment

AP

Apidura

Pioneer of ultralight rackless luggage, developing waterproof race and expedition packs tested across long-distance cycling events. The range is split across racing, expedition and backcountry systems, using rackless bags for long-distance road, gravel and off-road travel.

Ultralight bikepacking bags

BE

Berghaus

Berghaus is a British outdoor clothing and equipment brand founded in 1966 by Gordon Davison and Peter Lockey in North East England, where it is still based. It makes durable kit for time outdoors, from everyday walks to mountain adventures. The brand also runs a repair programme, Repairhaus, to keep its gear in use for longer.

Outdoor clothing and equipment

BI

Bird Cycleworks

Bird Cycleworks makes mountain bikes and operates from Consett in the UK. Its range covers full-suspension bikes and hardtails, with direct sales and demo-bike services.

Mountain bikes

BL

BLK BOX

BLK BOX makes strength and conditioning equipment at its headquarters near Belfast. It combines in-house manufacturing with gym design and fit-out services for training facilities and home gyms.

Strength training equipment