Groundbreaking G-Force Technology to Flag Major Head Impacts in Rugby
In a pioneering move, rugby union is set to be the first sport globally to employ technology for the automatic removal of players suspected of sustaining a brain injury during play.
Expected to be officially announced within the next 48 hours, World Rugby is embracing smart mouthguard technology in all its elite matches. This innovative technology, measuring the G-force of each head impact in real-time and utilizing Bluetooth to instantly alert an independent doctor, aims to enhance player safety in the game.
The debut of this technology is scheduled for the WXV women’s match between Italy and Japan on October 13, followed by its introduction into the men’s professional game in January, coinciding with the Six Nations.
Credited as a “potential game-changer,” the technology addresses the fact that approximately 15% of concussions in rugby union only become evident when players report them after a match.
The smart mouthguards will signal an alert to an app watched by an independent doctor when a player experiences a significant collision, not captured by TV cameras or showing immediate concussion signs. Subsequently, the player will be promptly removed for a head impact assessment. Even if cleared to play, further checks will be conducted post-match and two days later.
To build a comprehensive understanding of the forces their heads endure over the season, players will also be required to wear smart mouthguards during training.
This technology, integrated into the existing head impact assessment process, forms part of a broader player welfare initiative by World Rugby. The initiative includes extending the return-to-play guidelines for community rugby to a minimum of 21 days.
With the expectation that the majority of players will switch to the £250 smart mouthguards funded by World Rugby, those who do not comply will be subject to the “recognize and remove” policy in community rugby, necessitating automatic withdrawal from the game in case of a potential concussion.
World Rugby’s £4.5 million investment in smart mouthguard technology and player welfare over the past three years aligns with ongoing efforts in collision and combat sports to prioritize player safety amidst legal challenges from former players.
Despite previous measures like lowering tackle heights, World Rugby has chosen to advance safety protocols after successful trials of the Prevent Biometric 2.0 mouthguard in English rugby, the Currie Cup, and the Farah Palmer Cup.
While smart mouthguards have been available for years, recent technological advancements enabling real-time data transmission have positioned them as a viable tool for enhancing player safety without impeding the pace of the game.
