World Rugby is considering using a smaller ball in the women's game.
The world governing body collects training and playing data for size 4.5 balls. This is about 3% smaller and 3-4% lighter than a typical size 5 ball.
World Rugby's scientific and medical manager Lindsay Stirling said: “Adult male hands are typically 10 per cent larger than adult female hands.”
“Women's athletics is pretty divided,” Sterling said.
“There is a significant percentage of people in this community who think and feel that it is important to continue to use the same equipment in the men's game.
“So World Rugby decided to experiment to see what actually happens when women play with a smaller ball.”
World Rugby has confirmed that play data was collected from the Women's Under-18 Six Nations, which played with a size 4.5 ball this month, and training data was collected from three teams in the Celtic Challenge.
The output of this data will be shared when it becomes available.
Sterling said the smaller ball “fits better in the hands of female athletes” and could offer “many positive benefits.”
The theory is that better balance with the player makes it easier to hold the ball, reduces knock-ons on contact, and improves the speed and accuracy of passes.
This could lead to a faster game with fewer rucks and scrums, and could also improve the accuracy and distance of kicks and lineout throws.
Changing equipment in women's sports is not a new concept. In basketball, the WNBA uses a ball that is one inch smaller in circumference than the ball used in the NBA. The 28.5-inch ball is also used by women and girls ages 12 and up, and boys ages 12 to 14.
In the soccer world, there has been a focus on developing soccer cleats for women due to the increasing number of female players suffering from anterior cruciate ligament injuries.
Earlier this week, the Rugby Football Union announced that the £12.3m already committed by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport will be used to support more women and girls to take part in rugby as part of the Impact '25 programme. It was confirmed that
analysis
Women's rugby can carve its own path in terms of governance, tournament structure, finances, match experience, facilities and equipment, and more. Some ideas have the potential to change the face of sports for the greater good. Other players will fail along the way as non-starters.
Whenever concepts like smaller balls are discussed, there is resistance to change. Of course this isn't the first time. Some people who have tried the small ball really liked the experience and think it improved their game. Others are less enthusiastic.
Being closed off to new data and research opportunities seems like a wasted opportunity. These could benefit future generations of players.
This includes whether the data shows that small balls are bad for the women's game going forward.