Six Nations players to wear smart mouthguards to detect head injuries

Mouthguard technology designed to help with identifying the need for head injury assessments is to be used in the forthcoming Six Nations.

Players on all teams will be provided with custom-fitted instrumented mouthguards, which measure an individual's exposure to head accelerations and will be worn during training sessions and matches.

The mouthguards will provide in-game alerts to pitch-side medical teams.

World Rugby announced in October that smart mouthguards would be added to head injury assessment (HIA) protocols from January, and the Six Nations is to be the first elite men's competition to use the new technology.

Julie Paterson, director of rugby at Six Nations Rugby, said: "Six Nations Rugby, its unions and federations are focused on driving the game wide commitment to prioritise player welfare and innovate in this area, to ensure we are using the latest technology and enhancing our processes where relevant, to protect the players.

"The technology around instrumented mouthguards has been developed extensively over recent seasons through the work undertaken by World Rugby.

"The ability to expand the HIA process to incorporate this technology is testament to the player welfare commitment across the game.

"Their introduction into the championship this year has been through collaboration with all six unions, leagues, clubs and the players. This highlights the positive steps being taken when rugby comes together with a shared objective to support the game and its players."

Ireland will begin the defence of their Six Nations title away to France on 2 February.

Listen to the RTÉ Rugby podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

Watch Leinster v Stade Francais in the Champions Cup on Saturday from