Smaller rugby ball for women makes it 'harder to do my job'
World Rugby is trialing a smaller size 4.5 ball for women's matches to better suit female physiology, sparking debate among players. While some appreciate the improved grip, others, particularly kickers and hookers, find the change disrupts their established technique and consistency.
Why it matters
The trial highlights the ongoing discussion regarding equipment standardization versus physiological adaptation in professional women's sports.
Figure caption, Why smaller rugby balls for women?
England will play Australia, Canada and New Zealand in the next three weeks and, like all the world's top women's players, they have some new equipment: a smaller ball.
During September and October's WXV Global Series, World Rugby is trialling a size 4.5 ball - about 3% smaller than the size five used in the men's game, but the same weight.
Their introduction has not been without controversy and for England hooker May Campbell, responsible for throwing the ball in at the line-out, told BBC Sport it can go "a bit skew-whiff".
One of England's kickers, Helena Rowland, has found a much bigger margin for error with the smaller ball, saying: "If you get it slightly wrong, the difference is massive."
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