US Edition
Rugby to use smart gumshields that glow red after heavy impacts
ENGLAND, AUG 11 – The mouthguards will flash red to indicate severe head impacts, aiming to improve player safety and concussion management, with full player opt-in confirmed for the tournament.
- At the Women’s Rugby World Cup, World Rugby will debut flashing LED mouthguards that light up when players suffer significant head impacts.
- After piloting instrumented mouthguards in 2023, nearly 300 former players launched legal action over brain injuries, prompting safety measures in rugby union.
- Using built-in accelerometers and gyroscopes, Prevent Biometrics' mouthguards alert when impacts exceed 75Gs for men or 65Gs and 4,500 rad/s² for women, flashing red for match officials.
- Beyond concussion checks, when the LED guard flashes, the referee will stop play and the player will leave for assessment, and Dr Starling warned foul play could be identified without substantial impact.
- World Rugby plans to expand the system across top-flight competitions, with the Premiership and United Rugby Championship following the Women’s Rugby World Cup, comparing data with the NFL and piloting in Australia’s NRL and AFL.
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65 Articles
RWC players to wear mouthguards that light up on impact
Players at the upcoming Women's Rugby World Cup will sport high-tech mouthguards that light up red when they suffer heavy head impacts, in a move aimed at improving player safety and reducing concussion, the sport's governing body World Rugby confirmed.
Innovative LED Mouthguards Revolutionize Women's Rugby Safety | Sports-Games
Innovative LED Mouthguards Revolutionize Women's Rugby Safety In a groundbreaking move for player safety, the Women's Rugby World Cup will equip athletes with high-tech mouthguards designed to mitigate concussions. The LED mouthguards, when activated by heavy head impacts, illuminate red, signaling medics to assess potential concussions. This innovation, confirmed by World Rugby, is set to enhance player care significantly.The smart mouthguards …
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