Hawk-Eye technology "is to be used for the first time at an England match at Twickenham in the World Cup warm-up game against France on Saturday," according to Gavin Mairs of the London TELEGRAPH. The introduction of the state-of-the-art technology -- one of a number of new measures being tested ahead of the World Cup next month -- "will also enable the England and France medical teams to assess immediately potential concussion injuries." The new technology "is understood to be a significant update on the World Rugby trial that was introduced in a number of Pro 12 club matches in the latter stages of last season," as well as at the Women’s World Cup and the U20 World Championship. It "will also be used in the World Cup as part of an effort to improve decisions" by the TMO and player welfare. Saturday’s introductory game for the new system "will be broadcast by Sky, while ITV is the host broadcaster for the World Cup." The new technology "takes the footage from the existing broadcast cameras but the TMO will now sit in a separate Hawk-Eye truck." The TMO "will also have communication with the television match director to review any footage or angles." Sky Sports Rugby Union Producer Julian Maddock said, "The key thing is that it can offer zoom-in angles or split-screen angles. ... There is also a zoom facility so if a ball is trapped at the bottom of the ruck going for a try, there will be the ability to zoom in and see if the ball has been grounded." The new technology "can also be used to help the respective medical teams and independent match doctors identify head clashes that may otherwise have gone unnoticed, while also assisting the medical teams in assessing an injury through reviewing the footage quickly." Maddock said, "They will see the replays in the medical rooms for the first time this weekend" (TELEGRAPH, 8/11).
