World Rugby is set to expand its trial of a smaller ball in the elite women's game, with a size 4.5 ball to be used at WXV later this year. The specially-designed Gilbert ball is approximately three per cent smaller than the regulation size five currently used, though it weighs the same.
The ball has already been used on the HSBC SVNS series this season following previous trials in age-grade internationals and club training sessions. Now, it will be trialled in the elite 15-a-side game, marking a significant step as World Rugby seeks to gather more data and feedback from players and coaches.
Many in women's rugby have advocated for a smaller ball to improve gameplay, though others consider it unnecessary and worry about additional costs for grassroots clubs to supply alternative equipment. Katie Shillaker, captain of Great Britain Sevens this season, noted that a greater capacity for offloading has been the key difference. 'The offload, catch and pass is a little bit easier,' she said, adding that it affects kickers more.
Other sports, including cricket and basketball, use smaller balls as standard for the women's game. A man's hand is on average about 10 per cent larger than a woman's. Coaches and players have previously expressed concerns over the impact on the kicking game, although preserving the weight is believed to mitigate that somewhat.
