Cardiff University is conducting a groundbreaking study to assess the impact of head injuries in women's rugby, a sport that has seen significant growth but lacks adequate safety research. Led by Dr. Peter Theobald, the study aims to create the first scientifically-backed head impact assessment protocol for female players, addressing a critical gender gap in sports safety. The research involves monitoring the Cardiff women's rugby team during training and matches, collecting data from instrumented mouth guards, cognitive tests, MRI scans, and computer modeling. This comprehensive approach is unprecedented and will provide insights into the long-term health risks associated with female contact sports. The study also aims to evaluate how factors such as menstruation affect players' musculoskeletal health and breast health, highlighting the need for better protective gear. Current protocols for assessing head injuries in women are based on male thresholds, which could endanger female athletes. The findings are anticipated to be published by the end of 2026, with hopes of informing safer practices in women's rugby and empowering future generations of female athletes.