Irish rugby figures to receive online protection service used by Arsenal & FIFA
The IRFU has announced a three-year partnership that will safeguard Men's, Women's, Academy, and Provincial players, key IRFU administrators, team coaches and match officials.
Since 2023, Signify has worked with World Rugby to protect its match officials on a year-round basis and safeguarding players during the Men's Rugby World Cup 2023 and the upcoming Women's Rugby World Cup 2025.
FIFA and Arsenal, as well as Olympic Sport federations, also use a service that provides real time monitoring of online abuse and threats, identification of perpetrators, law enforcement support in the most serious cases plus education and training sessions for teams and individuals.
'Rugby is a game built on respect and abuse of any sort should never be tolerated," said IRFU CEO Kevin Potts. "In recent years we have heard from people in our game of the increasing threat from online abuse, and we have been identifying ways to offer more support and protection for them in this area.
"Our colleagues in World Rugby used this service very successfully during the 2023 Rugby World Cup and the Irish match officials who benefited from the service spoke very highly of it.
"We are delighted to now offer the service of Threat Matrix to our players, coaches, match officials and any other key participants across the IRFU and the four provinces who feel they might be at risk. The welfare of our team is of the utmost importance to us, and we look forward to working with Signify on this important initiative.' IRFU CEO, Kevin Potts (Image: ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy)
Rugby Players Ireland CEO Simon Keogh added: "We are pleased to be working alongside the IRFU and the four provinces on this important initiative.
"While protecting our players online is essential, this new service will also provide them with the tools to navigate the digital world confidently so that they can embrace its opportunities without being held back by the challenges it presents.'
The IRFU claims that using a hybrid of AI technology and human analysis, Threat Matrix detects targeted abusive and threatening content across all major social media platforms.
The proactive service risk assesses and investigates the most serious content which will provide the IRFU, provinces and RPI with actionable evidence for a range of sanctions, including venue and ticket bans, as well as reporting the most serious cases to police.
The Threat Matrix service will also include a dedicated reporting and investigation process for harassment sent via direct messages.
Signify will also deliver a number of in-person education and training workshops for players, officials, and other stakeholders. These will cover a variety of areas and will equip individuals with the awareness and knowledge they need to stay safe online.
'We are proud to partner with the IRFU to help protect its players, staff, and officials from the serious impact of online abuse,' said Jake Marsh, Head of Sport at Signify Group.
'We know through our work how sport's participants are affected both on and off the field of play by online abuse and threat.
"The good news is that their mental health and performance can be protected while also taking action to tackle online abuse head-on. The IRFU's commitment to year-round protection and education in this area reflects real leadership in welfare and safeguarding.'
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