Rugby World Cup could use Hawk-Eye after trials are announced
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Version 0 of 1. This year’s Rugby World Cup will use Hawk-Eye video technology in a bid to improve decision-making by television match officials and assist player welfare. The new system will be trialled from next weekend in selected Pro12 fixtures to ensure any teething problems have been resolved prior to the tournament kicking off in September. Until now Hawk-Eye has been more readily associated with other sports, but World Rugby, the game’s governing body, is determined to do whatever it can to “strengthen the accuracy and efficiency” of the existing TMO process. The 2015 World Cup’s host broadcaster, ITV, is said to be awaiting the outcome of the trial but the Guardian understands the new technology will definitely be employed at this autumn’s tournament. While the protocols regarding the questions the referee can ask the TMO will remain unchanged, the official monitoring the footage will have access to simultaneous multiple angle replays in both real-time and slow motion, delivered by Hawk-Eye’s ‘SMART Replay’ system. The technology works by recording all broadcast angles and making this content available immediately to everyone including officials, coaches, medical staff and producers. Among other things, it is hoped the improved footage will make it quicker and easier to identify incidents such as last week’s episode in Cardiff when George North was concussed but remained on the field until the end of the game. “We are excited by the proposed system developed by Hawk-Eye that has clear benefits for the match official team, the medical team and fans around the world,” said Brett Gosper, World Rugby’s chief executive. “Central to our sport is the integrity of player welfare and the match official decision-making process. These live trials will help us determine a technology approach for Rugby World Cup.” In addition to the Pro12, further trials will take place at the Under-20 world championship in Italy. Sale’s former England winger Mark Cueto will be among those intrigued to see whether the increased number of available replays improves the officials’ ability to judge tight try-scoring calls. Cueto had a potentially game-changing try ruled out in the 2007 World Cup final against South Africa in Paris when there was a shortage of entirely definitive video footage. Video referrals also played a prominent role in the outcome of last year’s Premiership final between Northampton and Saracens at Twickenham and margins in the elite game have never been tighter. This year’s World Cup is set to be the best-attended and most-viewed rugby event in history, with England due to kick off the tournament against Fiji on 18 September. Hawk-Eye’s replay technology is currently being used in a number of other sports, including athletics, horse-racing, football and Australian rules football. Related: Italy’s situation is serious in the Six Nations and Pro12 | Dean Ryan |