England will face Australia, Canada and New Zealand over the next three weeks using a size 4.5 ball — about 3% smaller than the men's size five — as part of World Rugby's trial during the WXV Global Series.

England hooker May Campbell reports the ball can go "a bit skew-whiff" at line-outs, while kicker Helena Rowland notes a "massive" margin for error and passes "dying" earlier than expected. Wales wing Lisa Neumann is positive, citing improved grip and changed passing.

Rowland explains that players have trained with size five balls for over a decade, making adaptation difficult in a short timeframe. She has not seen clear positives, though some teammates feel more confident offloading. Campbell adds that inconsistent ball inflation — sometimes "fatter," sometimes smaller — creates additional problems.

A World Rugby spokesperson confirmed all participants' feedback will be surveyed equally. The ball was previously trialled in youth competitions, but no comparative data exists yet for senior XVs rugby.