World Rugby is exploring the potential benefits of a smaller rugby ball for women’s matches. The proposed size 4.5 ball is slightly smaller and lighter than the standard size 5, which could better suit the typically smaller hands of female players.
Lindsay Starling, World Rugby’s science and medical manager, highlighted the mixed opinions within the women’s rugby community. While some advocate for uniformity with the men’s equipment, others are open to the idea of a smaller ball that could enhance performance.
Trials with the size 4.5 ball have been conducted during the Women’s Under-18s Six Nations and training sessions for the Celtic Challenge teams. The findings from these trials are expected to be released in the future.
The rationale behind the smaller ball is to facilitate easier handling, leading to fewer errors, faster passing, and potentially a quicker pace of play with less frequent stoppages for rucks and scrums. Enhanced kicking and throwing accuracy are also anticipated benefits.
This initiative is part of a broader movement in sports to tailor equipment to women’s needs. For instance, the WNBA uses a basketball with a smaller circumference than the NBA’s, and there’s a growing emphasis on developing football boots designed for women to reduce the risk of injuries like ACL tears.
The Rugby Football Union has also committed £12.3m from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport to encourage more women and girls to participate in rugby through their Impact ’25 programme.
Reported By BBC Sports
