Riedel Communications has extended its partnership with Red Bull UK to provide a fully integrated communications solution for an international rugby team.
Comprising a Riedel Artist digital intercom matrix, Bolero and Bolero S wireless intercom systems, and RSP-1232HL SmartPanels – and backed by Riedel’s managed technology services for remote support and maintenance – the solution provides the team with clear and reliable communication during training and matches.
Nacho Lee, Riedel’s UK sales manager, said: “Coaches and other staff conduct numerous strategic conversations during a rugby match, and the standard radios that the team was previously using didn’t provide the audio quality needed for them to consistently hear each other. Not only did the team require a solution that delivered crystal-clear audio, but it also needed to provide ease of use with differentiated tactical channels for various staff. Finally, they wanted peace of mind in terms of system set-up, support and maintenance – and our managed technology solution checked all the boxes.”
Riedel’s Artist intercom mainframe is at the heart of the communications solutions. A decentralised and scalable solution, Artist allows for flexible placement of nodes to reduce wiring and set-up costs, while enhancing system reliability with a dual-ring, fibre-optic network topology that provides full redundancy. Its unified recording and audio mixing capabilities allows the team to integrate referee communications into its strategic decision workflow, while recording in-game communications for after-game training purposes.
The Artist platform integrates seamlessly with the team’s Bolero and Bolero S wireless intercom systems, which consist of five antennas and 30 wireless beltpacks, with Red Bull-branded MAX high-performance headsets and 20 RUN in-ear headsets delivering optimal audio quality. The full-duplex, multiple-channel communication provided by the Bolero systems enables flexible set-up, meaning the system can be used during training and matches.
Riedel’s RSP-1232HL SmartPanel allows the head coach to ID each key member of staff, making it simple to communicate individually with other coaches, the substitute bench or the medical team. From Riedel’s Remote Operations Center in Wuppertal, Germany, the company’s operators remotely control, configure and calibrate all system components in real time, ensuring maximum security and optimum sound quality.
Red Bull Athlete Jack Nowell said: “In preparation for the Rugby World Cup 2023 in France, we are travelling a lot throughout the year. When travelling so much, it’s important we have consistency in how we communicate as a team, so that we can replicate performances wherever we are. Riedel’s systems are helping us do that, meaning there’s one less thing to worry about when on the pitch.”
Paul Rivens, Riedel’s UK general manager, said: “Our communication solutions provide flexibility and reliability for a wide range of sports applications, and we are excited to take advantage of that to move our longstanding partnership with Red Bull beyond motorsports and into rugby. This fully integrated solution will be used in every upcoming match and practice until the 2023 Rugby World Cup season, and possibly beyond.”
