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Ireland’s forward coach, Paul O’Connell, has praised the Vodafone 5G Standalone Mobile Private Network (MPN) that the team will utilize to analyze training sessions at the upcoming Rugby World Cup. The 5G MPN, developed by Vodafone in partnership with Ericsson, will provide the team with faster download and upload speeds, lower latency, and deeper insights into various aspects of the game.

The technology will enable video analysts, coaches, and players to gain a better understanding of scrums, rucks, mauls, line-outs, and open play. Housed in a van that will travel with the team to France, the MPN will offer superior video editing and indexing capabilities compared to previous third-party solutions. It will facilitate the simultaneous recording of training exercises through eight high-resolution video streams and a 5G-connected drone, providing real-time footage.

O’Connell explained that the players will have the opportunity to engage in a scrum and observe it on an iPad or television screen just 30 seconds later. They can then provide feedback to the coaches, similar to the introduction of GPS technology to rugby 20 years ago. The sooner feedback is given, the better the chances of behavior or habit change, according to recent research.

Vinny Hammond, head of analytics and innovation at the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU), revealed that the standardized set-up at the Rugby World Cup, which typically includes camera scaffolding on the halfway line, would not suffice for Ireland’s coaching team. However, World Rugby has cleared the use of the Vodafone 5G MPN at the team’s training base, as well as in Paris if Ireland advances to the latter stages of the tournament.

This project is the first of four phases that Vodafone and Ericsson will implement for the IRFU. The other three phases, involving AI, Internet of Things, and sensor technologies, will be completed in the next 12 months. The network will provide a greater level of security, reliability, and innovative data analysis capabilities to analyze performance and inform decision making.

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