Smaller balls for women's rugby 'worst decision ever'

Smaller balls for women's rugby 'worst decision ever'Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Zoe Harrison has scored 30 points from 15 conversion attempts in this year's Women's Six NationsByMike HensonBBC Sport rugby union news reporterPublished6 minutes agoEngland 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.World Rugby held a trial for female players on the top-tier Sevens circuit in November and announced last month the smaller balls would also be used by the world's best 15-a-side players in the upcoming WXV.England will face Canada, who they beat in last year's Rugby World Cup final, three times as part of the new showcase for women's Test rugby. The Red Roses also have home fixtures against Australia and New Zealand during an eight-week international window."It's the worst decision that someone has ever made," Harrison told BBC Sport, explaining she only learned about the trial when asked about it by journalists."I've not kicked any less than a size five since I was the age of 14."There is not the same amount of surface area for you to wrap your foot around."Men's hands are about 10-15% bigger than women's hands. Other sports have made accommodations for female body types, such as lower sprint hurdles in athletics or lighter and smaller basketballs.The aim of the smaller rugby ball is to make the women's equipment proportionate to the men's game, promoting accuracy, fewer handling errors and a greater reward for running the ball.But critics have said it may damage the image of the women's game and increase costs for grassroots clubs.World Rugby has tweaked its trial - a previous incarnation of the size 4.5 used...