Sage named Six Nations Rugby insights partner

Six Nations Rugby has named Sage as its official insights partner. This will see the company provide real-time data and analytics to several tournaments, including the Autumn Nations Series and the women’s and men’s Six Nations next year.

As a global leader in accounting and finance software, Sage is delivering a variety of new innovations for the competition. “Smart ball” technology promises to provide players, coaches, referees, and audiences, with more metrics on areas including kick hang-times and territorial gains from kicking battles. There are also plans for using smart ball technology to detect forward passes, although this is still being trialled. It’s hoped that these innovations will assist with on-field decisions.

Sage will also offer advanced predictive analytics and new in-play data that will be captured and presented to fans in real-time, over broadcast coverage and through social media, delivering truly unmissable coverage.

Already using innovative technology to provide customers with a wealth of accounting and business data through their Sage Intacct, Sage 200, and other software, Sage breaks the boundaries of intuitive analytics to deliver insight-rich information for improved decision making. Offering futureproof and scalable technology, Sage helps businesses improve efficiency, accuracy, and performance, and now has plans to provide Six Nations Rugby with the same benefits to boost audience engagement.

Talking about the planned technology for the tournaments, former Wales Captain Sam Warburton has said,

“It’ll hopefully help the viewer understand more by bringing more analytics into their living room.”

While Cath Keers, Chief Marketing Officer for Sage, added,

“Becoming the official insights partner of Six Nations Rugby is an exciting step for Sage, as we continue to bring our insight and decision-making capabilities to life, in a human and accessible way. For some teams, the Autumn Nations Series will be the first time they have been able to gather data and insight from the smart ball technology.”

“The partnership with Sage is incredibly exciting for everyone involved, as they share a desire to enhance the experience for audiences, and ultimately bring even more fans into the game.”