Team Hawk-Eye: The People Podcast, Series 2, Episode 1
Ruck & Roll Rugby
Hi there — I’m Will (Talent Acquisition Manager — Global Operations) and I’m back to kick-start our second series of Team Hawk-Eye’s The People Podcast Blog.
Last year, we rolled out our first ever podcast series, where we got to talk to some of our amazing team members across the business to give you an insight into what it’s like to be part of Hawk-Eye. If you didn’t catch them, you can find a link to the episodes here: https://medium.com/hawk-eye-innovations.
Our first episode of this year features Joe Symonds, one of our Rugby Project Leads who will be managing the team responsible for delivering Hawk-Eye’s Injury Review services to five of the six teams throughout this year’s Six Nations tournament.
Continue below to find out what it’s like to work at one of the biggest international events in the rugby calendar and how you can join this incredible team! To get the latest instalment of The People Podcast, see here:
For more behind the scenes with Joe, keep reading…
10 Questions with…
- Name: Joe Symonds
- Current job title: Project Lead: Rugby
- How long have you been at HEI?
Almost 4 years, first starting out as a SMART Systems Operator
- What services will Hawk-Eye be delivering throughout the Six Nations?
We’ll be delivering SMART Injury Review technology to 5 of the 6 nations competing, for all home Men’s, Women’s and Under 20’s matches being played across all 3 tournaments, spanning from February to April.
5. What are your main responsibilities when operating at major Rugby events like the Six Nations?
Our main responsibilities on-site during a match day are to provide support to the medical teams through the setup and operation of our SMART Injury Review system. Which, during play, is operated at both a pitch-side position and within the medical room of the stadium.
On each station we have a member of our operational team, often consisting of 1 full-time SMART Sports Operator, supported by a local freelancer. During a game, our team members, alongside the medical staff, identify and review incidents to determine injury causes which can lead to the removal of players from play for player welfare and can often assist in identifying injury mechanisms, the key to player recovery.
In order to set up and operate the injury review system, our team will install and test the system one day before match day. The systems integrate with the broadcasters to gather camera feeds which will be ingested into the platform to use during play. Once integrated with the broadcasters, operators thoroughly test and run the system in preparation for match day.
Alongside this, we will also be providing various services to team analysts to help them in their positions to drive their team's performance each week.
Although we don’t provide every service to the Six Nations there are a handful of services that we provide to our other rugby clients. For example, we are now well established on the World Rugby 7s Series, and have been providing Medical, Citing, TMO, Analyst, and more recently Referee Communications to the events hosted around the world. We have also worked at the previous two Rugby World Cups (England in 2015 and Japan 2019), an event I was lucky enough to be a part of as a TMO operator and undoubtedly one of the most important events and experiences of my Hawk-Eye career!
6. What do you enjoy the most about working at Six Nations?
The Six Nations is such a huge spectacle and one, as a massive rugby fan, I look forward to each and every year. Before working for Hawk-Eye I’d never been to a Six Nations international, let alone sat pitchside for some of the biggest matches the series has to offer! Not only is it such a captivating spectacle each year, but it’s also one of rugby’s biggest international tournaments on the yearly calendar and certainly one of the most exciting to watch. All of which boils down to it being an honour to work at. Most importantly to work for each union to ensure that the injury recognition systems are in place to try to ensure that player welfare in the sport is delivered to the highest standards to protect both the players and sport itself. Being able to fit into such a niche role and potentially make a huge difference while working at one of the biggest events in the sport is what gets me excited to be a part of the Six Nations each year!
7. What other key projects will the rugby team deliver in 2022?
2022 is a huge year for the Rugby sporting calendar at Hawk-Eye, every year the Six Nations plays a huge role in our winter/spring operational calendar. But in addition to this, 2022 is seeing the return of the World Rugby 7s series, which has already seen 4 events across Dubai and Spain, with 5 more events to come before the Rugby 7s World Cup takes us to Cape Town for what promises to be a huge spectacle for Rugby 7s! But that’s not the only Rugby World Cup in this year’s diary. October should see the long-anticipated and overdue Women’s 15s World Cup in New Zealand, which promises to be a huge showcase for the Women’s game and one I can’t wait for. World Cups are always a special event and this one will be no different!
8. What do you love the most about Six Nations tournaments?
For me the Six Nations is the best International Rugby Competition outside of the RWC, the rivalries, the passion of the fans, the close competitive rugby, the upsets and triumphs are so important to so many people year in and year out that it makes the tournament so incredibly special for even the short period it spans.
9. What’s your favourite moment in the history of rugby / Six Nations?
I think if I’m to go off my personal experiences here, it would definitely be my entire experience at RWC19. The experiences shared with colleagues both at work and in the fabulous country that is Japan will always be unrivalled. I’m sure a lot of our team there would firmly agree with me. If I was to pick a specific moment from the Six Nations, it would have to be Wales v England — roof closed in Cardiff sitting pitchside, the roar of both sets of fans was like nothing else, hearing “Swing Low Sweet Chariot” being drowned out by Hymns and Arias was such a surreal experience I remember so vividly and something I recommend any rugby fan should try to experience!
But my connection to rugby will always go back to 2003 and watching that drop goal go over really sparked my interest and my passion for rugby. So much so I’m sitting here today loving my job because of the access it gives me to that sport!
10. What advice would you give to anyone applying?
I think the best piece of advice I could give would be to stay true to who you are as a fan of sport. For me, the passion to be a part of something bigger than yourself and helping to drive our operations forward is a huge asset and keeps me motivated. Crucially, within our Rugby Operations, the drive to make the sport safer and protect the reputation of the sport is fueled by those passionate to make a difference and bring about change for the future. Find a way to use that passion and drive to innovate, anything really is possible, no idea is too far-fetched. If you love sport, Hawk-Eye and SMART Sports really is the right place for you!
Apply now!
If you’d like to join the Hawk-Eye team, check out our careers site for live vacancies:
