A weighted, half a rugby ball is being hailed as one of the greatest new innovations in rugby. The ShadowBall is engineered to rebound off any wall and come spiralling back to the passer, and for the first time ever, it enables rugby players to train solo passing and catching.

“Skill and technique are often confused” says ShadowBall inventor, Gary Crookes. “Techniques are trained in practice, but when applied instinctively in a match situation, that’s skill.

Crookes came up with the idea in 2012 after seeing a similar concept being used in American football. After visiting factories abroad, he used cutting edge processes and materials to design and create the ball according to IRB specifications, so that it matches the weight and diameter of an IRB specification match ball.

Enlisting the help of the University of Stellenbosch Centre for Human Performance Sciences, a game handbook was designed for players. Then, with the help of Dr. Ray Finch who is renowned for his work with international cricket teams, Crookes tested and measured passing and catching abilities with players at Jeppe High School in Johannesburg.  This research showed that the ball can increase passing accuracy by as much as 266% in four weeks.

Teaming up with former Springbok, Gcobani Bobo, they went on to develop passing drills grounded in the player’s experience. Crookes continued to test the product with coaches and players at top rugby schools before launching the product globally in 2015. Protected under South African registered design laws, ShadowBall has been widely praised as a revolutionary training aid by many in rugby circles.

Saturday Sport Show host Adrian Botha had a chat to the pioneer that is Gary Crookes.

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