World's biggest rugby ball in Hong Kong

Apart from some great PR, Cathay Pacific's huge rugby ball will be auctioned off with the proceeds going to disaster relief charities

By Bruce Foreman 16 March, 2011

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The Hong Kong rugby team unveiled the world's largest rugby ball on March 15. Captain Anthony Haynes (center) said it was the first time he had participated in an attempt at a world record. His teammates appended: "Apart from an attempt at world's biggest biceps."

guinness world record largest rugby ball

The supersized rugby ball is 2.9 meters high and 4.4 meters long. It's heavy.

The ball's bladder, compared with a regular ball.

The valve was engineered by Paul Richter in the UK, whilst the bladder, panels and stitching were eventually taken on by a company called Predator, in India.

"I won't be actively looking to make more giant balls in the future," says Hamid Lane from OOTO Productions.

About 3,300 standard rugby balls could fit inside this one super-sized ball. A couple of grown men is no challenge.

The giant ball arrives in Hong Kong.

Blowing up the ball. The world's largest rugby ball is made with the same materials and to the same proportions as a regular rugby ball. It can be used in games, for giants.

All in a day's work for Guinness World Record adjudicator Angela Wu.

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As part of the lead-up to the Rugby Sevens, Cathay Pacific has made the world's largest rugby ball, which earned a Guinness World Record.

It wasn't easy getting the big ball done.

"Technically, the football needs to be playable," says Guinness World Record adjudicator Angela Wu, who flew in from Beijing to test the ball.

"If we had a giant who was tall enough, they should be able to play rugby with the ball."

Hammid Lane from OOTO Productions was the man charged with bringing the idea of the big ball into being. He ended up going to India to get it made.

"You think that China can make anything," said Lane. "But the hardest thing in fact was finding someone with the balls to take it on."

The world's largest rugby ball will be on display outside the Marco Polo Hong Kong's Cucina Restaurant until March 23. After that, it will travel to the Hong Kong Stadium for the Rugby Sevens where teams will sign the ball.

Fans can participate in the ongoing online auction to own the ball. Proceeds from the auction will go to earthquake victims in Japan, Yunnan and Christchurch via the Red Cross.

Bid on the ball from Cathay Pacific's Facebook page.

Professional traveler, tea drinker, photographer, writer, environmental scientist and real-foods appreciator, Bruce is based nine months of the year in Hong Kong and three months in Australia.

World's biggest rugby ball in Hong Kong

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