IRB approve trial of Goalscan technology

RUGBY IS set to venture even further in to new technology following a decision by the International Rugby Board (IRB) this week. The IRB Council has approved a request from the English Rugby Football Union to trial Goalscan technology in a sanctioned competition.

The new device will electronically indicate whether a kick at goal, whether it is a penalty or a drop-goal kick, has been successful.

The technology will be similar to that used at Wimbledon where Hawkeye can discern whether a ball is inside or outside the tramlines.

Goalscan is based on a replacement crossbar incorporating technology that generates an electric curtain, which when broken by a rugby ball, transmits a signal to the Ref Link frequency, alerting the match official whether to award the points or not. The system could also be linked to activate flashing lights within the crossbar, LCD units or television monitors.

As in the current Television Match Official (TMO) system, where a referee can ask for assistance in awarding a try, so too may he soon be able to seek electronic help for kicks.

The idea originated at Worcester Warriors, where a debenture holder, Derrick Morgan, and his friend, Duncan Williams, chairman of Hereford-based technology company IAT Limited, thought up and developed the idea after watching too many badly-called decisions.

Very often referees, who might find themselves on the half-way line keeping up with general play, are not well positioned to call drop-goal attempts, while line judges are also level with play and are not in a position to accurately judge if the ball is inches inside or outside the posts, especially if the kick is higher than the top of the posts.

“We asked the IRB if we could trial Goalscan,” said RFU national media manager Dave Barton. “In terms of what competition we will trail it, that has not yet been decided. We have lots of different competitions in which we could use it, the Guinness Premiership, the National Leagues . . .

“We sought approval from the IRB because we thought that it would enhance the game experience in rugby and also help officials, the line judges and the referees.”

The IRB gave their approval for the trails to go ahead at a meeting at their headquarters in Dublin on Tuesday night, where they also discussed the process for amending laws in the game.