Zoe Harrison: ‘Worst decision ever’, Red Roses fly-half tells WXV Small Balls.

England fly-half Zoe Harrison says introducing this autumn’s WXV Global Small Ball Series was “the worst decision anyone has ever made”.

Size 4.5 balls – 3% less, but as a rule, the same weight as size five – will be used for the competition in September and October.

World Rugby has tested female players On the senior sevens circuit in November And last month it announced that the smaller balls will be used by the world’s best 15-a-side players in the upcoming WXV.

England will face Canada, who beat them in last year’s Rugby World Cup final, as part of a three-time Women’s Test Rugby Showcase.

The Red Roses have home games against Australia and New Zealand in the eight-week international window.

Harrison only learned of the hearing when asked by reporters: “It’s the worst decision anyone has ever made,” she told BBC Sport.

“I haven’t stepped under a size five since I was 14.

“There’s not the same amount of surface area to wrap your feet around.”

Men’s hands are 10-15% larger than women’s hands. Other sports have made accommodations for female body types, such as athletics with low sprint hurdles or light and small basketballs.

The aim of the mini rugby ball is to bring the women’s equipment on par with the men’s game, promote accuracy, reduce handling errors and get more rewards for running the ball.

But critics say it could damage the image of the women’s game and increase costs for grassroots clubs.

World Rugby has revised the test – the size 4.5 incarnation used by the Under-18 Six Nations in 2024 was smaller than size five, before weight was added to eliminate the risk of kickers.

The governing body said it has received positive feedback from players who have tried the current version.

“With seven players, we carefully analyze player feedback, injury tracking and shape of the match data from the WXV Global Series,” said Mark Harrington, World Rugby’s chief player safety and rugby services officer.

“From there we will review the findings together with the wider women’s game and see where we go next.”

Harrison is currently on a winning streak in the Women’s Six Nations.

She has nailed all 15 shots she has taken so far in the tournament.