Big game won’t be in red and green
WALES and Ireland will be banned from playing each other in their traditional colours, with rugby lawmakers planning to introduce a rule change as a means to help colour blind supporters.
The change will be implemented for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, where red-green kit clashes will be banned to aid those who find it difficult to identify and distinguish between the colours.
Red-green colour blindness is the most common form of the condition and, according to the NHS, affects around one in 12 men and one in 200 women.
Of all the fixtures which will be affected by the change, the clash between Six Nations rivals Wales and Ireland is the most obvious.
Marc Douglas, a qualified engineer who serves as research turf and equipment manager for World Rugby, talked about the importance of engaging those supporters who struggle with colour blindness.
“From our perspective, if you’re potentially limiting eight per cent of your male audience, that’s a huge huge number of people who are suddenly switching off,” he said.
The change will not only improve the experience for the thousands of fans either attending games or watching from home, but it will also aid players who are colour blind.
Colour Blind Awareness founder Kathryn Albany-Ward said Euro 2020 was “really good for colour blind people” and raising awareness, but World Rugby is taking action to alter its laws and effect change.
“Hopefully by the time Rugby World Cup 2027 comes round, this is the norm,” added Mr Douglas.
“An awful lot of people don’t realise that they’re colour blind because they see what they see day to day and they don’t know that people see any different. We’ve identified quite a few areas that we can be much better at.”
There is hope that by implementing the change at World Cup level, rugby union may come to adopt the policy at all levels. As yet though, there is no such plan in place for the 2022 Six Nations, given the tournament is run by a separate organisation.
A NEW set of stamps from the Royal Mail features Wales and Lions legend JPR Williams and former Wales women’s captain Mellissa Berry in action, pictured right.
Celebrating the 150th anniversaries of the formation of the Rugby Football Union and the first international match between England and Scotland in 1871, another in the set of eight features Ireland international Sophie Spence who is currently a World Rugby coaching intern with Wales Women.
Berry captained the first Wales
Women side to beat England – at Taffs Well in 2009 – and to that season’s Triple Crown. It is that 2009 game which is on the stamp featuring Berry.
“This game in particular holds a special place in my heart as not only did I score a try, but we beat England on the way to winning the Triple Crown that year,” she said.
Williams features on a stamp looking back on another famous meeting with England.
In this case, it is Wales’ 17-13 win over the Red Rose in the Five Nations Championship of 1970.