Scottish Rugby benefitting from rapid live communication
Written by
Ian Westbrook
October 14, 2026
The Scottish Rugby Union (SRU) have been benefitting from a rapid live communications service which has transformed the way their coaching and technical staff work.
They are in their third season of using the Riedel Communications technology, which Performance Analyst Christopher Chapman says has become vital for their daily work.
“Clear live communication is essential for our training and matchday operations, as it connects everyone involved in performance optimisation and match-day support, regardless of where they are working,” said Chapman. “With Riedel’s SidelineComms service, we have a reliable solution that offers excellent audio quality, supports specific staff groups, and is intuitive for our team to use – especially in noisy stadium environments.”
The German technology company provides extensive support to the SRU through its Riedel SidelineComms Managed Service, which is part of the RefSuite offering for professional sports communication.
This ensures that backroom staff are constantly connected with referees during matches, which not only streamlines existing workflows but also contributes to faster decision-making.
Not only is the system set up at the SRU’s Murrayfield home, the flexible infrastructure of Riedel’s Managed Service means it can be adapted to different requirements and used at away games.
‘Reliable communications in demanding live environments’
Nacho Lee, Programme Manager at Riedel Communications, explained: “Our SidelineComms managed
“With Scottish Rugby, we are delivering an integrated, service-led solution that combines communications for coaches and staff with
The solution is based on Riedel Bolero Wireless Intercom and StageLink Network Stream Adapters. A total of three Bolero antennas, 21 Bolero S beltpacks in combination with push-to-talk headsets, and three standard Bolero beltpacks with Bluetooth connectivity to the head referee are used. In addition, StageLink Network Stream Adapters are used for intercom recording and referee audio routing.
Communication on the sidelines is not only becoming increasingly important for coaches and staff at sports organisations, but it is also becoming part of a comprehensive workflow that integrates training, analysis, and final decision-making in day-to-day game operations.
Riedel Communications is also involved in football and developed RefCam, which made its Premier League debut in May 2024 as we reported earlier this year.
RefCam has been used for selected matches in Germany’s Bundesliga since the 2024/25 season.
- This is a sponsored article on behalf of Riedel Communications
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