England fly-half Zoe Harrison has strongly criticized World Rugby's decision to introduce smaller balls for this autumn's WXV Global Series, calling it "the worst decision someone has ever made."
The new size 4.5 balls—about 3% smaller than the regulation size five but with the same weight—will be used during the tournament in September and October. World Rugby initially trialed the smaller balls on the top-tier women's Sevens circuit in November before announcing last month that they would also be adopted by the world's best 15-a-side players for the upcoming WXV competition.
Harrison, a key playmaker for England, expressed frustration that she only learned about the trial when asked by journalists. "I've not kicked any less than a size five since I was the age of 14," she told BBC Sport. "There is not the same amount of surface area for you to wrap your foot around."
The rationale behind the change is rooted in biomechanics: men's hands are about 10-15% larger than women's, and other sports already make accommodations for female body types—such as lower sprint hurdles in athletics or lighter, smaller basketballs. World Rugby aims to make women's equipment proportionate to the men's game, hoping to improve accuracy, reduce handling errors, and encourage more running plays.
However, critics argue the move could harm the image of women's rugby and place an additional financial burden on grassroots clubs, which would need to purchase new balls. World Rugby has already adjusted its trial after a previous version of the size 4.5 ball used in the 2024 Under-18 Six Nations was lighter than a size five. That weight was corrected to address kickers' concerns.
The timing is significant for England's Red Roses, who are preparing for an exciting eight-week international window. They will face Canada—whom they defeated in last year's Rugby World Cup final—three times as part of the new WXV showcase. They also have home fixtures against Australia and New Zealand.
World Rugby says it has received positive feedback from players who have tested the current version of the ball. "Along with the sevens players, we'll carefully take stock of player input," a spokesperson stated. But for Harrison and many others, the change remains a tough pill to swallow.