Smaller Ball Makes It “Harder to Do My Job,” England Rugby Players Say

The smaller ball being trialled in women’s international rugby has already divided players, with England’s Helena Rowland saying it has made her job harder rather than easier.

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a bit skew-whiff

World Rugby is testing a size 4.5 ball during the September and October WXV Global Series. It is about 3% smaller than the size-five ball used in the men’s game, although it has the same weight. England will face Australia, Canada and New Zealand during the trial.

For England hooker May Campbell, the change has affected line-out throws, which can go “a bit skew-whiff”. Rowland, one of England’s kickers, said the smaller ball leaves a much larger margin for error. “If you get it slightly wrong, the difference is massive,” she told BBC Sport. England players have also noticed passes “dying” and reaching the floor sooner than they previously would.

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If you get it slightly wrong, the difference is massive.

The trial is based on the idea that a smaller ball may better suit women’s physiology and improve skills. But Rowland said she had never felt hindered by using the same ball as men. She has spent about 13 years developing her kicking technique with a size-five ball and said players are being asked to transfer that training to a new ball within four or five weeks.

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it's changed the game

Not all feedback has been negative. Wales wing Lisa Neumann said the ball had “changed the game” for her passing because it offered better grip. World Rugby said surveys would gather views from players, coaches and match officials with “equal value”. England players have also questioned whether the balls are consistent, saying some appeared fatter in earlier weeks and that new balls felt smaller.

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with equal value