Each ball is hand-made made to an existing pattern from four pieces of 2.5mm bridle shoulder cow leather. The beading is made from calf skin and each ball is stuffed with wool flock, though horse-hair was used up until the mid-1920s.
Each ball, which is dated, weighs about two and a half pounds and is 21 inches round.
Thirty hours of work goes into each one and the bill for each is picked up by the sponsors of each of the three games. No spares are made.
Making the ball
