RWC 2023 To Promote Inclusivity Via Colour Blindness Policy

World Rugby is implementing a RWC 2023 Colour Blindness in Rugby guidelines which is set to become policy from 2025. Teams at the Rugby World Cup will wear appropriate alternate match kits to better aid colour-blind fans.

The news was announced on 6 September for players, fans, referees, coaches and officials to be aware of Colour Blind Awareness Day which affects an estimated 300 million people.

World Rugby said, “From a coaching perspective, it is essential for those involved to be able to differentiate colours in some way, be it training cones, bibs or clothing, while from a player welfare perspective, the ability of a player or match official to quickly identify those on the field of play is a significant safety consideration, especially in an injury or foul play situation.”

In September 2021, World Rugby published its Colour Blindness in Rugby guidelines which were developed in collaboration with Colour Blind Awareness (CBA), a non-profit organisation that raises awareness of the needs of colour blind people in the community.

World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont said “When World Rugby first launched the Colour Blindness in Rugby guidelines, we made a clear statement of our intention to apply the colour blind awareness guidance in our own competitions as soon as possible”.

“As a person with CVD myself, I am delighted that from January 2025, the guidance will become policy for World Rugby tournaments as we prepare for the pinnacle of the women’s game with Rugby World Cup 2025 in England. Many stakeholders are already following suit and our hope is that working together, as a team, the rugby family will help accelerate our ambition to deliver a more inclusive game and rugby experience for all”.

Image Credit: RWC 2023

RWC 2023 Alternate Match Kits – RWC 2023 Colour Blindness Policy

World Rugby has been taking steps to implement its own guidance across its various activities and events and for RWC 2023, worked closely with the Participating Unions and CBA to encourage certain kit combinations in an effort to avoid kit ‘clashes’.

Among the matches at Rugby World Cup 2023 which will see the teams wear more appropriate alternate matchday kits are the Wales and Portugal fixture, while the other participating teams have also committed to show their support by wearing alternate jerseys for certain games including Georgia, Ireland, Tonga and the Springboks to accommodate colourblind fans.

For the Portugal v Wales Group C encounter on 16 September 2023 in Nice – the Welsh alternate kit (black) would have clashed with Portugal’s primary kit (dark red), so both Portugal and Wales have confirmed they will each wear their alternative kit in support of the cause.

What actions have been taken?

• Kit ‘clashes’ are being avoided where kit colours appear too similar to colour-blind people due to a lack of sufficient colour contrast or designs – while being mindful of manufacturing and commercial considerations.
• An alternate kit may still pose a challenge if there is not enough colour or design differential.
• Kit testing was undertaken alongside broadcast kit testing early in 2023 on the RWC 2023 Primary and Alternate kits of each team plus the match officials kits to ensure maximum contrast between the kits of both teams and match officials.
• Kits were also considered not just from the perspective of fans watching on TV or in the stadium but also from the perspective of any colour-blind players and match officials.
• For some RWC 2023 matches, sock colours have also been changed to avoid potential confusion by match officials.

Even off the field of play, RWC 2023 has taken colours into consideration with sufficient colour differentiation in areas like ticketing, accreditation, venue and directional signage, digital platforms and others.

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