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Episode details

World Service,11 May 2026,23 mins

Should the world’s best women’s rugby union players use smaller balls?

More than the Score

Available for over a year

England fly-half Zoe Harrison says the introduction of smaller balls for this autumn's WXV Global Series is "the worst decision someone has ever made". Size 4.5 balls - about 3% smaller, but the same weight as a regulation size five - will be used for the tournament in September and October. Delyth Lloyd is also joined by the BBC’s Rugby reporter Sara Orchard and England World Cup winner Danielle Waterman. Sara explains the issues around the introduction of a new size ball and how frustrated some players are at the prospect of playing with one and the potential extra costs involved. We also hear Sara’s interview with Zoe Harrison. While, Danielle tells us there is always resistance to change but she’s in favour of the smaller ball and outlines some of the issues she had playing with a size 5 ball during her career. She believes players will adapt to the challenge of playing with a new ball and will ultimately embrace and enjoy it. Every Monday to Friday, More than the Score tells stories beyond the scoreline from all over the world of sport. From Formula One to netball, MMA to figure skating, and Grand Slam tennis to Diamond League athletics. We've got interviews with extraordinary athletes like Tour de France winner Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, Winter Olympic champion Elana Meyers Taylor, trailblazing Samoan athlete Alex Rose and cricket superstar Smriti Mandhana, as well as the experts working behind the scenes, from football super-agents to the coaches keeping athletes in peak form. Plus, we've got the expertise of the BBC's top journalists, who share their insights from decades of covering sport at all levels. And if you've got your own take on the stories we cover, we'd love to hear from you. Email morethanthescore@bbc.co.uk, or WhatsApp us on 0044 800 032 0470. You can find more information, along with our privacy notice, on our website: www.bbcworldservice.com/morethanthescore

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