World Rugby Goggles Global Law Trial
In January 2014, World Rugby launched the Rugby Goggles Global Law Trial to assess the potential for players who have a need to wear corrective lenses to do so while playing rugby and not increase the risks to them or to other players. In the 3 years since this launch, World Rugby have worked with experts and participants to determine the requirements that need to be addressed in developing a performance specification that can be adopted into law. This work has resulted in the development of a second phase of the project in which the adjustments made will be assessed for suitability.
The goggles continue to perform highly against international standards for the aspects in impact resistance and field of vision. In addition to this, the shape and retention criteria set out by World Rugby to minimise the risk to all players have not changed.
The launch of the new Rugby Goggles 2.0 sees increased performance in anti-fogging and scratch as well as the introduction of a smaller size device more suited to smaller players.
Rugby Goggles are also being used, as part of the trial, by people who suffer from chronic eye conditions. This includes people with monocular vision, restricted vision in one or both eyes and people with eye conditions that put them at a greater risk of vision loss than the general population. While the Rugby Goggles are not designed to provide extra protection for such individuals, they may be worn for that purpose if the individual considers that it is beneficial to do so.
This next phase of the project is being complemented by a robust research project to identify if any further work is needed before looking to bring the goggles into law. This project is being undertaken by the Ulster University and the University of Bradford who will be contacting all registrants regarding their experiences of using the goggles. World Rugby encourages all participants to assist in this process so that a true sense of the experiences of using the goggles can be achieved.
There are three steps in the process for participating in the trial:
- Register on the World Rugby Passport system and then complete the registration process for the Goggles Trial (see link below). This will provide you with a Unique Purchase Code (UPC).
- Go to the Raleri website and, using the UPC, purchase your goggles, indicating which size (smaller or larger) you would prefer. Note that goggles can only be sold to individuals with a valid UPC.
- Once the Rugby Goggles have been received, take them to your optician/optometrist and have plastic lenses inserted in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. If the player does not require corrective lenses, the player may remove the lens-insert in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and may use the Rugby Goggles as provided.
It is important to note that only those Rugby Goggles carrying the official World Rugby Trial Approved logo are permitted to be used in the trial, and all participants must demonstrate their need for the Rugby Goggles through a letter from their ophthalmologist/optometrist (or similar expert) stating that there is an ophthalmic or medical need for their use. Inspections and checks may be performed by match referees to ensure that all participants have complied with these conditions.
The use of the Rugby Goggles is permitted in any game of Rugby. Any player who considers the risks inherent in playing with or against someone wearing the Rugby Goggles to be outside of acceptable levels of risk is free to choose not to participate in the game. However, the use of the Rugby Goggles is not grounds for preventing the wearer from playing in the game.
The success or otherwise of the Global Law Trial will determine whether Rugby Goggles will be permitted to be worn beyond the trial period and enable World Rugby to provide a Rugby Goggles Specification. It is therefore essential that World Rugby receives feedback from all those who elect to become part of the trial by purchasing and using a pair of the Rugby Goggles.
Thanks again for your interest and participation in the World Rugby Goggles Global Law Trial.
More information on the manufacturer's web site at www.raleri.com
Trial registration
To purchase a pair of World Rugby Goggles, the first step is to log in using using your World Rugby Passport credentials. If you're not already registered with World Rugby Passport, follow the Register link below. Once you're logged in, there's a short application form to complete, after which you'll be given a purchase code for use on the site of the manufacturer, Raleri.
Log in
Register
if you already have a World Rugby Passport account
if you're not yet registered with World Rugby Passport
Frequently Asked Questions
This list of questions and answers will be added to as required through feedback from participants using the online feedback form. If responses to specific questions are required please contact your national Union. All contact details can be found on the World Rugby website.
Only players with chronic eyesight conditions may use the goggles while playing contact Rugby. This includes people who require corrective lenses, people with monocular vision and people with restricted vision in one or both eyes.
The goggles must only be worn on recommendation from an ophthalmologist (or similar expert) and the wearer must provide the match referee with a letter from their ophthalmologist (or similar expert) detailing the need for the participant to wear the goggles.
Only the person who has completed the application form for inclusion in the Global Law Trial (or the person for whom the applicant is a legal parent or guardian) may wear the Rugby Goggles while playing contact Rugby.
Rugby Goggles may not be used by an individual to enable them to play contact Rugby while recovering from a temporary eye or face injury.
The World Rugby Goggles Global Law Trial is open to all players in all Unions who fulfil the criteria set out above. Participants must register (if not already registered) on the World Rugby Passport System. Following World Rugby Passport registration all parts of a short application form need to be completed before a Unique Purchase Code (UPC) will be issued.
Once you have you been issued with your UPC (which will also be emailed to you) you can then go to the Raleri website to purchase your Rugby Goggles.
Each UPC permits the registrant to purchase one pair of Rugby Goggles only and can only be used once.
As part of the purchase process you will be required to register on the Raleri website. This registration is completely independent of the World Rugby Passport System and all information provided will be stored by Raleri.
Only polycarbonate lenses (or similar plastics) should be used in the Rugby Goggles’ insert. Glass must never be used to manufacture the lenses used in the insert.
Only a qualified optician should fit the lenses to the Rugby Goggles Insert. The insert itself should not be altered in any way. The directions supplied by the manufacturer should be followed when fitting the lenses. Glass should never be used to manufacture the lenses fitted to the Rugby Goggles insert.
During the trial a feedback form will be available on the World Rugby Player Welfare site. This can be completed as often as the individual participant wishes.
Towards the end of the Global Law Trial, all participants will be required to complete a short feedback form to describe their experiences of using the Rugby Goggles. This will be completed online, from the World Rugby Player Welfare site and participants will be informed of the process via email.
Due to data protection issues, all feedback forms will be split into two sections. The first will include questions, the answers to which cannot contain any personal, medical information on the participant and will be stored alongside the data held on the World Rugby Passport system. The second section will allow participants to provide any information they deem relevant to the Global Law Trial. As this information may contain private medical information it will be processed (at all times) separately from the information collected in the first section of each form. This will be stored by World Rugby’s resource production partner, Sport Development, and provided to World Rugby in anonymised form. There will be no means by which the data supplied in the two sections can be correlated at any time.
