In professional rugby union, the gumshields—which have a chip to monitor gravitational forces—are being phased in.
There is no denying that this is a step in the right direction toward improving our understanding of collision sports, but some concussion experts have questioned the data and there have been calls for additional changes.
What’s the history?
With hundreds of former players suing the game’s governing bodies over the handling of brain injuries sustained throughout their careers, rugby union is facing a safety crisis.
Smart mouthguards will be worn at the WXV, a new international championship, according to a World Rugby announcement in October. After that, they will be available everywhere starting in January 2024.
Following a number of tests and two research projects supported by World Rugby, the organization said that the findings gave “players and parents greater confidence than ever before into the benefits and safety of rugby.”
Gumshields would be a “really positive” development, chief medical officer Dr. Eanna Falvey told news Sport in October.
The force and direction of impact, or “head acceleration events,” are recorded by the gumshields, which are manufactured by Prevent Biometrics.
