The Sept. 20 opening of the Rugby World Cup Japan is approaching. Spectators will be able to enjoy not only the athletic competition in the matches, but also the evolving technology incorporated in the sport. Advanced technology has been adopted in jerseys and other equipment, grass on the pitch, stadiums, broadcasting and so on, helping to upgrade the sport to a higher level, technically and visually.
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FUNCTIONAL JERSEYS
Traditional long-sleeved cotton jerseys are gone. When part of a jersey is torn or a jersey is spoiled with blood, the player changes into a new one. Spectators may witness the player struggling to take off the jersey, then wriggling his body into the new one like a wet suit. This is because modern short-sleeved jerseys are designed to be extremely tight-fitting to make it difficult for tacklers to latch onto the jersey. Some of them are even collarless.
Sports equipment manufacturers have been competing to make jerseys with better functionality and sweat absorbency, quicker-drying and lighter, among other features.
Asics Corp. has since 2014 provided official jerseys to South Africa and Australia, both of which are two-time world champions. Their new jerseys for the World Cup were created based on data from measurements of players' body shapes using 3D and simulation technology. In June, these jerseys were unveiled to the public in Tokyo.
According to Asics staff members in charge of jersey development, the company focused on designs with state-of-the-art technology that fit the playing styles of each team and in accordance with players' positions.
South Africa is characterized by power based on their physicality. To help them improve their cohesion in the scrum, a special technology was used under the arms of their jersey, where forward players tightly grasp each other's jerseys, to strengthen their grip.
Asics designed two types of shorts for South Africa. One is for forwards who need durability, while the other for backs is made with flexible knit fabrics to expand freedom of movement so they can easily run and kick the ball.
Australia traditionally has been pursuing a progressive running style. So Asics excluded factors that hinder the running style as much as possible. The modifications took into account how the arms' range of motion deteriorates while running, and so adjusted the jersey for freer movement.
Shorts are made with plenty of flexible knit fabrics for both forwards and backs in pursuit of better running and kicking ability.
Meanwhile, the new jersey adopted by the Japanese national team comes in three types, featuring different materials depending on the position: props and hookers in the front row of the scrum, other forwards in the second and back rows, and back players.
The jersey is up to 12% lighter than the one worn in the 2015 World Cup campaign, according to the manufacturer Canterbury of New Zealand Japan Inc. Slip resistance processing was adopted around the chest area to prevent knock-ons.
Many national teams use the global positioning system in their jerseys. You might see a slightly raised patch on the back of the jersey just below the neck in which a GPS chip is installed to measure the running distance in each game. Based on the figures, coaches decide who and when to sub off strategically.
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EASY-TO-GRIP BALL
Since the second World Cup, traditional leather balls have been replaced by synthetic ones. The official match ball for this year's World Cup is named Sirius, after the bright star in the sky, and is made to be easier to handle with a new textured pattern on its exterior. The ball was developed by British sports equipment manufacturer Gilbert, which has provided official match balls since the third World Cup in South Africa.
A notable feature of the ball is the use of two types of star-shaped pimples on the surface, unlike the conventional round ones, to enlarge the total surface area by 30% without changing the size of the ball. As a result, the ball provides better grip, especially in wet conditions, according to Gilbert.
When synthetic balls first appeared, world-famous goal kickers complained about the ball's unpredictable trajectory, but manufacturers have addressed the issue, making improvements to the ball.
According to Suzuki Sports, a dealer in Sirius balls in Japan, the Gilbert ball has an air vent along the seam, which means that the spin of the ball is more stable than one whose vent is placed away from the seam on the surface. Consequently, the trajectory keeps a stable course during lineout throws and kicking.
Sirius was used for the first time in a test match between Japan and New Zealand in Tokyo in November 2018. After the match, Japan's playmaker and goal kicker Yu Tamura said that there was no problem with the ball in terms of kicking it.
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HYBRID GRASS
Good pitch conditions are critical for players to not only give excellent performances but also avoid injuries. Without well-groomed turf on the pitch, the grass could be violently torn up after a scrum into something like a molehill. In such poor pitch conditions, it is possible that when a player is about to score a try, he trips on the rough ground and misses a crucial chance.
However, even with well-groomed natural turf, the pitches become worn down after successive matches at the same stadium. To reinforce the natural grass, the global trend is to adopt a hybrid turf combining natural and artificial grass.
World Cup venue Kamaishi Recovery Memorial Stadium in Iwate Prefecture adopted hybrid turf that has a stronger grip than normal turf. Planted on a special bed of soil that includes artificial fibers, natural cork and sand, the lawn's roots engage with the artificial texture underneath, which improves the durability, shock absorption and water retention, according to Nihon Field System Corp., which undertook the lawn's construction at the stadium.
This is the first introduction in Japan of this type of hybrid turf, which has been used for stadiums in the French rugby professional league Top 14.
The hybrid turf at the World Cup venue Kobe Misaki Stadium is different from the one at Kamaishi. Artificial fibers 21 centimeters long are driven to a depth of 18 centimeters into the natural turf with a machine at two-centimeter intervals. The roots of the natural turf wrap around the fibers. As a result, the pitch is firmer.
International Stadium Yokohama, which will be a venue for major pool-stage matches, the semifinals and final, has also adopted hybrid turf using artificial fibers.
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SPECTATOR-FRIENDLY
In Japan, there are few stadiums exclusively for rugby, such as the World Cup venues Hanazono Rugby Stadium in Higashi-Osaka, Osaka Prefecture, and Kumagaya Rugby Stadium in Kumagaya, Saitama Prefecture.
Many stadiums in Japan have been built as multipurpose venues with a 400-meter running track around the field. Therefore, the pitch is far from the stands, making it difficult for spectators to see close-up, physical plays and directly feel their intensity. In addition, the width of the pitch at multipurpose stadiums tends to be a little narrower than the 70 meters at a rugby-only stadium. The shorter width is necessary because of the arcs of the running track. For that reason, back players may have difficulty executing attacks in a narrower space.
The thick pillars to support the stadium roofs also block spectators' line of sight.
Many of the World Cup venues have thus newly set up or renewed their stadium screens. They are also using LEDs to increase the light intensity for night matches.
Sapporo Dome is mainly used for baseball, but measures are planned for when it hosts matches at the World Cup. When rugby or soccer games are held, the outfield seats are retracted and stowed. A huge natural turf field measuring 120 meters by 85 meters, kept outside the stadium so the grass can grow in sunlight, is moved into the dome. As it weighs 8,300 tons, which is equivalent to about 30 jumbo jets, an air pressure system helps the turf hover 7.5 centimeters above ground, reducing the weight by 90%. It then slowly rolls into the stadium on 34 wheels at a speed of 4 meters per minute, about the speed sushi dishes move around at a conveyor belt sushi restaurant, according to Sapporo Dome Co.
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SPECIAL CAMERAS
During international matches, you may see an object flying freely above the pitch and sometimes its shadow is visible on the field. This cable camera is branded spidercam.
The special cable camera is suspended on wires stretching overhead from four corners of the stadium. The system enables the spidercam to move in all directions to capture aerial images of plays on the field. The aerial images of scrums especially help spectators understand how the scrums are formed and how each side pushes the other. This is usually hard to understand for those unfamiliar with the sport.
The technology has already been used in past rugby and soccer World Cups, major tennis tournaments, Olympic competitions such as figure skating, as well as in films, including those in the Spider-Man and Resident Evil series.
According to the Rugby World Cup 2019 Organizing Committee, spidercam is scheduled for use at seven venues: Sapporo Dome, Tokyo Stadium, International Stadium Yokohama, Shizuoka Stadium ECOPA, City of Toyota Stadium, Kobe Misaki Stadium and Oita Stadium.
In addition, the referee also has a small camera installed on his chest area. Through these "eyes of a referee," up-close images of scrums and other set pieces are provided.
The 2018 soccer World Cup in Russia adopted the video assistant referee (VAR) system for the first time in the tournament's history, which resulted in a record high number of handballs and other penalties that were not detected without using the system. The introduction of a video referee in rugby was much earlier than that of soccer.
When in doubt, referees turn to TMO
In Rugby World Cups or international matches, when the referee cannot confirm with his naked eye whether a specific player grounded the ball in the opponent's goal to score a try, or cannot do so even after consulting with the assistant referees standing along the touchlines, the referee can consult with the television match official (TMO). In a room with special equipment at the stadium, the TMO then checks the scene using multiple camera angles. In requesting the TMO, the referee draws a square in the air using both hands evoking a monitor.
The referee makes the final decision based on the consultation with the TMO, who repeatedly examines in detail video images of the scenes in question. The scenes are also shown on a large screen at the stadium. You may be able to hear a discussion in English between the referee who says something like "Please check whether Japan grounded the ball on the try line," and the TMO who replies a few minutes later: "There is no special reason to deny the try. You may award the try."
TMO judgment is also applied to penalties, such as high tackles and other foul play that could lead to serious injuries. However, there has been criticism that frequent usage of TMO will break the momentum that had been working favorably for one of the sides, and also extend match times, sometimes exceeding two hours. Some referees, therefore, try to avoid using TMO frequently.