A ball valve assembly is provided. The ball valve assembly comprises a pipe section having an axial bore for enabling fluid flow therethrough in use; a valve ball having an internal conduit, the valve ball being mounted within the pipe section and being for rotation with respect to the pipe section between an open position in which fluid within the axial bore may flow through the internal conduit and a closed position in which the internal conduit is inaccessible to fluid within the axial bore; a device configured to rotate the valve ball, the device being located radially outside the axial bore; and an encapsulation positioned to receive the valve ball and having portions located radially between the pipe bore and the device configured to rotate the valve ball, such that the encapsulation prevents fluid within the axial bore from accessing the device configured to rotate the valve ball.