Rugby robots take to the field at UCD

Move over Paul O’Connell — your robotic replacements are here.

Well, not quite, but yesterday at University College Dublin a squad of rugby-playing robots were unveiled ahead of the 2012 Siemens RoboRugby Competition.

Built by 63 first-year engineering students at UCD, the robots don’t look as imposing as a rampaging All Black centre or a glowering French second row, but they can certainly take a hit or two.