Ireland-Wales games to see change as World Rugby promise ban on green-red kit clashes

Ireland or Wales will need to change kit if the sides meet at the 2027 Rugby World Cup in a move to help colour-blind fans

Ireland players, including Tadhg Furlong and Conor Murray, celebrate their side's third try against Wales during the 2020 Six Nations match at the Aviva Stadium. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

World Rugby is to introduce new laws at the 2027 World Cup that will ban red-green kit clashes to help people with colour vision deficiency (CVD). The measure means Wales or Ireland would have to change jerseys if drawn to play against each other in the tournament or in future fixtures.

Over 300 million people worldwide currently suffer from some form of CVD. The condition is far more prevalent in men, with around one in 12 globally affected by the condition compared to one in 200 women. Red-green colour-blindness is the most common form and is experienced by around 8% of male rugby fans and 0.5% of female supporters.