Rugby Confronts Safety Concerns with Smart Mouthguards at Women’s World Cup

Published: 12 August | The English Chronicle Desk

As the Women’s Rugby World Cup prepares to kick off in England next week, rugby officials have candidly acknowledged the sport’s ongoing safety challenges, particularly the risk of concussion. In a groundbreaking move, the tournament will introduce smart mouthguards equipped with technology designed to detect potential concussions by flashing red when a significant head impact is registered.

World Rugby’s openness about the sport’s safety issues marks a significant shift in tackling the serious concerns around head injuries. Dr Lindsay Starling, World Rugby’s science and medical manager, told Sky News that while rugby’s physical nature inherently carries a high risk of injuries, addressing concussion is now an uncompromising priority. “We could stick our head in the sand and pretend something doesn’t exist, but that’s not going to help anybody,” she said.

The smart mouthguards will be used to alert medical teams on the field when players sustain impacts that warrant immediate evaluation. Typically, one player per match is expected to be removed for a thorough head injury assessment, which includes video analysis, physical tests for steadiness, and cognitive examinations such as memory and concentration tests.

The introduction of this technology is set against the backdrop of ongoing legal actions involving more than 700 former players—primarily men—who claim negligence by rugby authorities in protecting players from brain injuries. Despite these challenges, officials stress that greater awareness and innovation in monitoring head injuries provide vital tools to make the game safer.

While concussion risks are taken seriously across all levels, World Rugby acknowledges that female players may experience concussions differently, often at lower magnitudes. Researchers are exploring factors such as differences in neck strength, blood flow, and the timing of technical training in female athletes.

This transparency comes at a crucial moment for women’s rugby, as the sport seeks to expand its audience and inspire a new generation of players. The presence of concussion-detecting mouthguards does raise concerns for parents considering rugby for their children. To address this, World Rugby’s chief medical officer Dr Eanna Falvey emphasized the importance of informed choices and highlighted the broader health benefits of participation in sport.

“Physical inactivity is the biggest health concern in the Western world right now,” Dr Falvey said. “Being involved with team sport has huge benefits.” He also reinforced the essence of rugby’s physicality: “It’s a contact sport. Nobody shies away from that fact. People play because they want that challenge. Our job is to make that game as safe as we can.”

As the Women’s Rugby World Cup unfolds, the integration of innovative safety measures like smart mouthguards represents a pivotal step toward balancing rugby’s renowned intensity with a commitment to player welfare.