Smart mouthguards in rugby

Published 6th February 2026

As the Six Nations Championship gets underway, rugby’s power and precision are on full display but behind the tackles, technology is helping make the game safer. Smart mouthguards, fitted with tiny sensors, are now giving players and coaches real-time data on impacts, offering a new layer of protection on the pitch.

From design to innovation

Creating a mouthguard that protects teeth, fits comfortably, houses sensors and transmits reliable data is a real-world design challenge. Engineers and biomechanists worked with World Rugby to set minimum standards for impact absorption, lab testing and on-field performance. The devices undergo rigorous testing, including pendulum strikes on dummy heads, ensuring accuracy and reliability before being cleared for match use.

Some mouthguards feature LED indicators that flash red on significant hits, allowing officials and medical teams to respond immediately. They also record long-term data, helping track player exposure over time. Smart mouthguards were introduced at the Women’s Rugby World Cup and are gaining popularity at all levels of the sport, showing how technology is shaping player safety.

A case study for the classroom

For teachers, this innovation is a perfect example of design & technology in action. Students can explore wearable tech, data transmission, ergonomics, materials choice and safety standards. It encourages discussion around user comfort, testing protocols and even ethical issues like data privacy.

The mouthguard’s journey from concept to accredited product demonstrates the design process: identifying user needs, prototyping, testing, iterating and producing to professional standards. It links classroom theory – sensors, mechanics, materials – with real-world application, showing students how creative problem-solving and engineering expertise combine to make sport safer.

With the Six Nations underway, smart mouthguards offer teachers a timely, engaging way to inspire students, highlighting how design, technology and innovation intersect on and off the rugby pitch.

Teachers can download the PDF version of this article, featured in Designing 132 below, and get their digital copy of the magazine here.