Flashing mouthgards for concussion to be introduced at Women’s Rugby World Cup

LEDs will flash red for potentially concussive impacts

NEW MOUTHGUARDS:  Ireland's Ailsa Hughes prepares to put the ball into a scrum during the Women's Rugby Summer Tour against Japan in August 2022. Pic: Sportsfile

Rugby union is to introduce flashing LED mouthguards that light up when a player suffers a significant head impact during a match. The mouthguard will flash red if the impact is severe enough to potentially cause a concussion. The referee will then stop play and the player will go off for a head injury assessment.

Dr Lindsay Starling, a science and medical manager at World Rugby, said the new system would debut at the Women’s Rugby World Cup, which begins next week, before being rolled out across the men’s and women’s elite game. “Match officials and players will be able to see that this player has sustained a big head impact because their mouth guard is flashing red,” she said. “And it will create awareness about head injuries and concussions in the stands and for fans at home, being able to see it on TV.”