Fri, September 11, 2026
Mixed responses to smaller women’s rugby ball trial during WXV Global Series
During the WXV Global series, an international women’s 15s rugby tournament involving the top 12 ranked teams: Australia, Canada, England, France, Italy, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa, USA and Wales, a women-specific smaller 4.5 ball size will be trialled between September 12 - October 31, causing mixed responses. The standard size 5 ball is about 3% larger but weighs the same as the 4.5 ball.
The smaller ball has already been trialled in U18 and U20 international competitions, domestic Spain and Colombia competitions and during the HSBC SVNS Series, the premier annual global competition for international rugby sevens. There was reportedly positive feedback following these trials, particularly surrounding greater control, accuracy and handling skills, without negatively impacting kicking performance.
HSBC SVNS’ website expressed: “World Rugby is committed to developing a women’s game designed in its own right, rather than as an imitation of the men’s game, and has trialled a smaller ball at a variety of different levels within the sport…
Global sports such as basketball, cricket, athletics and football already use equipment specifically designed for female players.”
Chair of World Rugby’s Women’s High Performance Committee, Melodie Robinson, said: “we’re focused on player feedback and giving them the best possible stage to showcase their world-class skills.”
However, the decision has caused a mixed reaction. English Rugby Union player, Zoe Eloise Harrison, told BBC Sport it is “the worst decision someone has ever made,” since she has been used to playing with the size 5 ball since she was a teenager. England also won last year’s World Cup using the standard size 5 ball. Sarah Rendell highlighted statistics such as an 87.8% lineout success rate at the 2025 Women’s Six Nations and kicking success at goal reaching 61%.
England's kicker, Helena Rowland, also expressed concern regarding the shape of the smaller ball, telling BBC Sport: “There needs to be a bit more done in terms of how the balls are made. We had some new balls today versus the ones we've had for the last three weeks [and the difference] is massive…
If you've been training with an old ball that's fat to then go into a game and it's a completely different shape, actually that makes a massive difference as well, which I think is something that you don't necessarily find so much in the size five.”
However, as stated, there was positive feedback when the smaller ball was trialled previously.
Kelsey Jones, professional Welsh Rugby Union player, who plays as a hooker, sees both sides. She told The Guardian: “Obviously already we are trying to grow the game and get people to watch and then we throw in a different size ball in there as well. But on the flip side I think doing it with internationals you get a true reflection of the differences and if it is beneficial. I have really gone back and forth with my opinion on it. It takes time to get used to and thankfully we have had time with the ball [during training and off-season] and it’s just playing rugby again now.”
She also stated: “It took some time to get used to but I feel like I am slowly getting there…
Speaking with a few of the kickers, obviously, being a smaller ball, when they are trying to find that sweet spot it is just a lot smaller so there is obviously a lot less room for error. I think the kickers have had it the toughest, then hookers and then everyone else. It isn’t drastically different and it does allow you to move the ball and have the confidence with ball in hand. So a mixed bag of emotions.”
The final decision will take into account player feedback, injury surveillance and game data, involving match statistics like scoring and possession patters, following this new trial at elite international level. Specifically, “passing speed, lineout accuracy, kicking confidence, handling errors and player feedback will all have a say,” according to HERSPORT.
