World Rugby has made a significant investment of over $2 million in smart mouthguard technology. This wearable tech will be used in professional rugby to help identify and address major head injuries. The Chief Medical Officer at World Rugby, Eanna Falvey, emphasized the importance of reducing head impacts for players at all levels of the sport. The adoption of smart mouthguards represents a shift towards prioritizing player welfare and performance management. This recommendation is based on prior studies in ice hockey, which showed that mouthguards can reduce concussion risk by up to 20%. The use of mouthguards will be required for all rugby players, both during training and matches, in order to better tailor drills and training load for individual players. World Rugby is committed to ensuring the safety of its players and is continuously working to reduce the occurrence of head injuries. The introduction of smart mouthguards is a part of a new phase of global player welfare measures. These innovative devices are equipped with technology to detect head injuries and concussions at an early stage. Rugby players are at risk of head injuries, particularly concussions, which require swift detection and treatment to prevent long-term harm. World Rugby’s focus on player safety includes rule changes, player education, and advancements in safety equipment. While the relationship between rugby and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is still being researched, the league is dedicated to protecting its players from such conditions. The use of smart mouthguards will be initially implemented in the upcoming women’s competition, the WXV, and integrated into the head injury assessment (HIA) process starting in January next year.

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