adminTHE legal tackle-height will drop to the waist for all rugby union below elite level from next season after the Rugby Football Union confirmed a radical law trial.
Following a unanimous vote from the RFU council, the governing body has moved to “reduce head impact exposure and concussion risk”.
As reported by Telegraph Sport last month, ball-carriers will also be “encouraged to follow the principle of evasion” and to “avoid late dipping”. Referees will be asked “to focus on the actions of the ball-carrier as well as the tackler when head contact occurs”.
A similar initiative in France has been cited, although that also ruled that there could only be one tackler involved in any one contact. Telegraph Sport understands that two-person tackles will still be allowed from next season, which could increase the possibility of head-to-head contact between defenders.
The changes will apply across the community game in clubs, schools, colleges and universities at both age-grade and adult levels, from National One and below in the men’s game and Championship One and below in the women’s game.
‘The tackle will remain the primary method of stopping the ball carrier’
“Designed to improve player safety and informed by data, this change aims to reduce head impact exposure and concussion risk in the tackle for both the ball carrier and tackler,” read a statement from the RFU on Thursday lunchtime.
“Evidence from studies has consistently demonstrated that higher contact on the ball carrier and closer proximity of the ball carrier and tacklers’ heads are associated with larger head impacts (as measured by smart mouthguards) and an increased risk of concussion.
“Lowering the height of the tackle and encouraging the tackler to bend more at the waist will minimise the risk of this occurring, while maintaining the tackle as an integral part of the game.”
Nigel Gillingham, the president of the RFU, stressed that the organisation’s own studies had been carried out.
“Players’ welfare must always be at the centre of decisions we make about how we play the game of rugby,” he said. “Evidence from our own research and from around the world clearly shows that lowering the tackle height will reduce head impact exposure and the risk of concussion.
“The RFU Council is able to influence how the game is played at the community level in this country and, therefore, has unanimously supported the decision to lower the tackle height to waist level. The tackle will remain the primary method of stopping the ball carrier using safe techniques that are taught from an early age.
“While this change will apply to matches in the community game in England, the RFU will continue its work to reduce head impacts in contact training in both the community and elite games and be supportive of any law changes that World Rugby proposes for matches at the elite level that will further reduce head impact exposure.”
World Rugby Chief Executive Alan Gilpin said: “In line with our six-point plan to make rugby the most progressive sport on player welfare, last year World Rugby opened discussions with unions about lowering the tackle height in the community game around the globe. At those meetings unions were presented with findings from trials that have taken place in France and South Africa as well as initial data from rugby specific studies using smart mouthguards.
“Discussions with unions have progressed well and formal proposals to be applied around the world are expected to be presented to our executive board in March. We welcome the RFU taking these proactive steps. Rugby will never stand still when it comes to player welfare and this is a prime example of the sport, once again, putting our words into action.” – Telegraph Sport.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter