Scotland’s Gregor Townsend Cautious About Smart Mouthguard Technology

Gregor Townsend, the head coach of Scotland, has expressed concerns regarding the reliability of smart mouthguard technology following consecutive incidents in the Guinness Six Nations matches. The use of ‘instrumented’ mouthguards, worn by elite male players for the first time in the championship, has raised anxieties due to the triggering of head injury assessments (HIA) based on the new technology.

These mouthguards are designed to send alerts whenever a ‘head acceleration event’ with G-force that exceeds 70g and 4,000 radians per second squared is detected. This innovation led to the temporary loss of two Scotland players in successive matches. Hooker George Turner went off for an HIA during the match against France, and Zander Fagerson had to do the same during the Calcutta Cup win over England.

Despite both players being deemed fit to return to the pitch, Townsend expressed his reservations regarding the use of this technology. He raised the issue of trusting a technology that has not been thoroughly proven. While emphasising the importance of protecting players, he highlighted the need for caution when implementing new and unproven technologies in rugby.

Townsend’s concerns also extended to the perceived haste in introducing this technology into top-level rugby. He emphasized the lack of prior use at the club level before its sudden implementation in the Six Nations. The coach stressed the importance of accuracy in such technology, particularly when it comes to the well-being of the players.

In light of these incidents, Townsend underscored the need for further work to be done before the technology can be deemed reliable and accurate. He suggested that the current approach of relying on player symptoms, as observed by medical staff, to flag potential head injuries remains a more reliable method at present.

As elite rugby continues to embrace technological advancements, the cautious stance taken by Townsend serves as a reminder of the need to thoroughly assess and validate the efficacy of such innovations. The welfare of the players must be at the forefront as the sport seeks to integrate modern technologies in its practices.

In conclusion, Townsend’s apprehension serves as a call for a more diligent approach in the introduction of new technologies in the world of rugby. While advancements are welcome, the priority remains the safety and well-being of the players. Embracing innovation should not come at the cost of player welfare, and the sentiments expressed by Townsend are a timely reminder to ensure that new technologies are thoroughly tested and proven before widespread implementation.