Number 9 puts the ball in your hands. Custom rugby ball purses made to order. Request your favorite team's ball, if we can get it we can make it!
FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME
number9 Rugby Ball Purses are made by a husband and wife team, Owen & Liz, in Fernanadina Beach, Florida. Owen is a 15 year veteran of the game who started out playing Union Rugby in Western New York for the Brockport Doggies. He went on to play with the University of Buffalo and South Buffalo before moving to the Jacksonville area. There he did a brief stint with the USARL team, the Jacksonville Axemen where he got the chance to sub on a visiting New Zealand team for an exhibition match (no, he did not do the Haka!)
WITH A WINK AND A LIMP
Shortly after joining the Axemen, Owen met Liz. He had taken a finger in the eye, sprained his left clavicle, and had a broken foot from a game the day before. Despite all of that, it was still love at first sight for these two. Their second date was a Rugby match of course, and over the course of the season, Liz would go to many more League and Union games. They cemented their love at away games and drink-ups and were married before the next season started.
FOR THE LOVE OF LOVE
While away at a tournament, Owen spotted a rugby ball purse on the arm of a player and immediately knew he could make one and make it even better. What better present for the girl who would become his wife! Sadly, to make a life together, Owen would have to move to Fernandina Beach, where Liz is the Creative Director for the small island museum. Happy, but too far away from Jacksonville to keep playing, Owen hatched the idea to make and sell more rugby ball purses - his way to stay a part of, and promote, the game that he loves. With the help of Liz's creative design skills, number9 was born!
