Scotland fly-half has say on smaller balls after England counterpart's 'worst decision' claim

The decision to bring the size 4.5 balls, around three percent smaller than the regulation size 5 balls currently used in both the women’s and men’s games, is one that has not gone down well in certain corners of the game. England fly-half Zoe Harrison did not pull her punches, calling it "the worst decision someone has ever made" recently.

The Saracens stand-off was supported by former England flanker and pundit Maggie Alphonsi MBE. The World Rugby Hall of Fame inductee posted on X: “Well said, Zoe. I do not support the decision either. It’s an unnecessary change.”

However, that sentiment is not shared by Scotland fly-half Helen Nelson, who is reserving judgement on the new balls until after she has had a chance to train and play with them. The 75-times capped stand-off admitted there was not as strong a feeling in their camp as was coming out of England.

“Obviously, as a kicker, it's such a massive part of the game is how you kind of strike the ball, deflate the ball, that sort of stuff,” Nelson said. “I don't have too much of an opinion yet, but I'll be very intrigued to see because obviously it implicates my job quite heavily.

“Until I've, kind of held it and had a play with it and seen what it's like, I wouldn't want to comment. But I am very intrigued to see how it is.”

Scotland will host Australia in September in the WXV Global Series plus two more team that are still to be announced. They then head to Australia in October, their first ever tour Down Under.

Making alterations to equipment or other aspects of contests is not an uncommon one in women’s sport. The Women's National Basketball Association, for example, uses smaller balls than the NBA, while boundaries are smaller in women’s cricket and hurdles shorter in women’s athletics.

The idea behind the change in women’s rugby is that making the ball’s more proportionate should promote accuracy with fewer handling errors.