Women’s Six Nations: Smaller balls and bigger crowds
Rugby Union Weekly
BBC
4.6 • 5.3K Ratings
🗓️ 6 May 2026
⏱️ 44 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Should the women’s game be using smaller balls? The debate is back on the agenda after Zoe Harrison’s interview with Sara about the decision to use size 4.5 balls at this autumn's WXV Global Series. Kat Merchant and Philippa Tuttiett give their views on ball trial, and discuss whether it is a backwards step for the game. We also examine the state of the women’s game in Italy as they prepare to face the Red Roses after an impressive victory over Scotland. Ticket sales for Ireland’s big date at the Aviva continue to fly off the shelf. Can Wales build on their bonus point against England and cause a big upset in Belfast?
Transcript
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| 0:55.1 | But I can say 51 minutes is a long time for Philippa to plug in seven different microphones. |
| 1:01.4 | Any headphone lead she could find in any person's drawer in the house. |
| 1:05.5 | For a fire alarm to go off when we did start recording because her eggs had burnt. |
| 1:28.3 | And now we've had to use a whole new system. Welcome to Rugby Union Weekly, Philip a Tuttiate. You're right. I am so sorry, guys. Like, I can't believe I'm that person. I hate that person when I'm doing Zooms. And I've become that person. Literally, everything just had was jinxed today. And I am so sorry. All I'm going to say is it's a good job, you're a nice person and we like to it. |
| 1:33.3 | You know what? Cat Merchant's eyes sometimes, she's been really good, real team player, but a couple of times the way she's looked has been how I suspect she looked at her opponents |
| 1:45.4 | when she was coming down the wing. |
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