A revolutionary new rugby ball which is set to change the way the game is refereed is set to be introduced on the international stage this summer. The new smart ball technology will be trialled at next month's under-20 Rugby World Championship and will help officials make accurate decisions more quickly and keep games flowing.
World Rugby has collaborated with analytics company Sportable and sports equipment manufacturer Gilbert to help develop the ball and "explore how the emergence of new technology and artificial intelligence can help shape the future of the sport, aiding the flow of the game and taking fan experience to the next level".
It is hoped that the smart ball will help referees with their decisions by tackling a number of common, but challenging, aspects of law. These areas include whether a ball has been passed forward, whether the ball is over the try-line, whether the ball has been touched in flight and line, where touch has been found and whether a lineout throw was straight.
