World Rugby has confirmed that rugby union will be the first sport to implement smart mouthguards in elite matches to manage concussions.
For the first time in the game, smart mouthguards will be worn at the WXV – a new women’s rugby union competition – before being brought in worldwide from January 2024.
World Rugby is investing an initial €2m (£1.7m) to support unions, competitions and clubs with adopting the new smart mouthguard technology supplied by US-based Prevent Biometrics.
The smart mouthguards will work in real time to send alerts of high forces to the independent matchday doctor. This will enable players who have experienced a high acceleration event, but not shown symptoms or been seen by broadcast cameras, to be taken off and assessed.
Dr Eanna Falvey, World Rugby Chief Medical Officer, said, “The latest scientific research and expert opinion is telling us one thing – reduce the forces players experience on their heads at all levels of the game. That is exactly what we’re doing.
“The advances in smart mouthguard technology mean elite players will be better cared for than ever before. We are taking smart mouthguards out of the realm of medical research and putting them into the world of everyday performance management to continue to manage player welfare in the best way possible.”
Alan Gilpin, Chief Executive Officer of World Rugby, commented, “We have always said that World Rugby never stands still on player welfare. This latest phase of welfare-related announcements reinforces the fact that as technology and science-based evidence progresses, we progress alongside it.
“With our latest report suggesting that rugby players lead healthier, happier lives, and participation in rugby up 11 per cent around the world since 2022, people can choose to play rugby knowing that they stand to enjoy all the benefits of this amazing game whilst being as safe as they possibly can be.”
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