The Women's Rugby World Cup is set to introduce a groundbreaking innovation in player safety with the debut of smart mouthguards equipped with LED alerts. These mouthguards are designed to measure the force experienced by players during collisions and issue immediate alerts if pre-set thresholds are exceeded.

How It Works

• Accelerometer and Gyroscope: The mouthguards contain an accelerometer and gyroscope to measure changes in velocity and rotational forces during collisions.
• LED Alerts: An embedded LED will flash red to alert on-pitch officials, ensuring quicker response times.
• Thresholds: For men, an acceleration alert is triggered at 75G, while for women, it's set at 65G. The rotational force threshold is 4,500 radians for both genders.

Enhanced Safety Measures

• Immediate Play Stoppage: Referees will stop play immediately upon seeing a flashing mouthguard, sending the player for a head injury assessment (HIA).
• Mandatory Assessment: Players undergo a 12-minute HIA, including coordination and cognition tests, to diagnose concussions.

Why It Matters

• Gender-Specific Data: Women are more susceptible to concussions despite fewer head acceleration events. This innovation aims to address this disparity.
• Player Opt-In: While not mandatory, there has been full opt-in from players set to compete at the 2025 Rugby World Cup, with only a few exceptions due to dental braces.

Future Implications

This technology, first used in the WXV 2023, is expected to be rolled out across the elite game, setting a new standard for player safety in rugby union.

Key Takeaways

• Innovation: Smart mouthguards are a game-changer for concussion detection.
• Safety: Immediate alerts and mandatory assessments enhance player safety.
• Future: Full adoption expected in future tournaments, ensuring a safer game for all players.