World Rugby has announced a landmark initiative to introduce smart mouthguards at all levels of the game, starting with the elite level. The devices will measure the G-force of head impacts and alert the medical staff in real time, potentially reducing the risk of concussion and other head injuries.
How do smart mouthguards work?
Smart mouthguards are protective devices that fit over the teeth and contain a microchip that tracks the acceleration of the head during a rugby match or training session. The data is transmitted via Bluetooth to a tablet or smartphone, where it can be monitored by the medical staff.
The mouthguards can detect when a player has experienced a high level of acceleration that could lead to a head injury. The threshold for men is 70g and 4,000 radians per second squared, while for women it is 55g and 4,000 rad/s². If a player exceeds these values, they will be automatically removed from the field and subjected to a head injury assessment (HIA).
The HIA is a protocol that involves a series of tests to determine whether a player has suffered a concussion or not. It includes an off-field screening, a memory test, a balance test, and a neurological examination. If a player fails any of these tests, they will not be allowed to return to play.
Why are smart mouthguards important?
Smart mouthguards are important because they can help to improve player safety and welfare in rugby, which is a contact sport that involves frequent collisions and tackles. According to World Rugby, there are about 12 concussions per 1,000 player hours in elite rugby, which is higher than in other sports such as football or hockey.
Concussion is a brain injury that occurs when the brain is shaken inside the skull due to a sudden impact or movement. It can cause symptoms such as headache, dizziness, nausea, confusion, memory loss, and mood changes. In some cases, it can lead to long-term complications such as chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), which is a degenerative brain disease that affects cognition, behavior, and mental health.
Smart mouthguards can help to prevent concussion by identifying players who have suffered a significant head impact and removing them from the game before they sustain further damage. They can also help to collect data on the frequency and severity of head impacts in rugby, which can inform future research and policy decisions on how to make the game safer.
When will smart mouthguards be used?
Smart mouthguards will be used for the first time at the women’s WXV tournament, which begins on October 13, 2023. The WXV is a new global competition that features 16 teams from six regions, competing in three tiers. The tournament aims to showcase the best of women’s rugby and increase its profile and popularity.
The smart mouthguards will then be integrated into the HIA from January 2024, meaning that all elite rugby players will be required to wear them in matches and training sessions. World Rugby hopes that the technology will eventually filter down to junior and community levels of the game, making it accessible and affordable for all players.
World Rugby’s chief medical officer, Dr Éanna Falvey, said that smart mouthguards can help to future-proof rugby from top to bottom. He said: “We know from a study of community players in Otago that the impacts are much smaller, and far less frequent in the under-13 and under-15 and under-18 level of the game. But we would like to work towards a scenario where we had certain thresholds, and these technologies, for the community game too.”
What are the benefits of smart mouthguards?
Smart mouthguards have several benefits for players, coaches, medical staff, and fans of rugby. Some of these benefits are:
- They can reduce the risk of concussion and other head injuries by detecting high-level impacts and removing players from the game before they worsen their condition.
- They can provide objective and reliable data on head impacts, which can help to diagnose and treat players more accurately and efficiently.
- They can improve player welfare and confidence by ensuring that they are protected and cared for at all times.
- They can enhance player performance by preventing unnecessary fatigue and cognitive impairment caused by head impacts.
- They can increase player awareness and education on head injury prevention and management.
- They can support research and innovation on how to make rugby safer and more enjoyable for everyone.
What are the challenges of smart mouthguards?
Smart mouthguards also have some challenges that need to be addressed before they become widely adopted in rugby. Some of these challenges are:
- They can be expensive and require maintenance and calibration.
- They can be uncomfortable or ill-fitting for some players.
- They can be affected by environmental factors such as temperature or humidity.
- They can be prone to errors or malfunctions due to technical glitches or human factors.
- They can raise ethical or legal issues such as data privacy or consent.
- They can create false positives or negatives due to individual variations or external influences.
World Rugby’s chief executive, Alan Gilpin, said that the governing body is committed to overcoming these challenges and ensuring that smart mouthguards are used effectively and responsibly. He said: “We have always said that World Rugby never stands still on player welfare. This latest phase of welfare-related announcements reinforces the fact that as technology and science-based evidence progresses, we progress alongside it.
