Bulldogs supremo Phil Gould believes rugby waist tackle mandate may signal end of collision sports
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The rugby union’s controversial mandate to ban tackles above the waist as part of a global test on July 1 could also affect the NRL.
That is the view of Canterbury Bulldogs boss Phil Gould, who fears that other collision sports such as rugby league may not exist in the future if the mandate transforms the way rugby is played.
Responding to a tweet from retired cross-code superstar Sonny Bill Williams, the longtime rugby league identity feels it’s an odd decision to introduce waist-high tackling.
There is no logic. And the people making these decisions don’t want to listen,” Gould tweeted.
‘Collision sports will no longer exist in the future. ‘Doctors, lawyers, media, they will not let up until collision sports are finally eradicated.
I wrote this over a decade ago. It’s happening.’
Rugby’s controversial mandate to ban tackles above the waist as part of a global test in July could also affect the NRL (former cross-code star Sonny Bill Williams pictured)
Canterbury Bulldogs supremo Phil Gould fears that other collision sports such as rugby league will not exist in the future if the mandate transforms the way rugby is played.
Gould responded to a tweet from SBW where the retired athlete expressed his bewilderment at World Rugby’s approach to tackling.
In 2019, Gould took aim at the NRL’s ‘hysterical’ HIA protocol, which he believes is primarily aimed at protecting the game from future lawsuits.
He followed the NRL launching an investigation at the time into the Canberra Raiders after the managers would not refer then-star hooker Josh Hodgson for assessment following a heavy blow in his team’s 16-10 preliminary final win over South Sydney.
Meanwhile, Williams uploaded a view of what he described as the “worst concussion” of his impressive sports career to make his point.
It was during a rugby test for the All Blacks against the Wallabies, and it followed a ‘textbook’ low entry.
In the harrowing clip, the damaging outside center suffered a severe concussion but after regaining his composure, he stayed on the field for New Zealand.
Williams’ argument was that he placed his body in the wrong place, as his position on the ground was too low.
He fears that if tackles above the waist are eventually banned, more players, at all levels of rugby, will end up with concussion if they miss the timing of tackles.
The 37-year-old expressed his frustration at the soon-to-be-presented mandate to his more than 936,000 followers on Twitter.
Williams, who won two rugby World Cups with New Zealand in 2011 and 2015, garnered a lot of support online.
One fan felt that it will ‘completely change the game’, and another supporter said: ‘I don’t think any feedback was sought from people playing at any level.’
The global test will be introduced from July 1 for amateur players of all ages, the Rugby Football Union [RFU] recently announced.
While Rugby Australia has previously said it has no intention of applying the same legalities to the game on home shores, the world governing body appears keen to force Australian players to adhere to the new restrictions.
World Rugby chief executive Alan Gilpin told the Sydney Morning Herald that World Rugby would follow the RFU’s lead with a no-tackling-above-the-waist test at amateur level in a global test from 1 January 2024.
Under the proposal, some leeway would apply with the warnings to be issued, however, shots around the torso would attract yellow cards and high kicks would result in an automatic red card.
“Yeah, we want to make sure we implement a lower tackle height in all parts of the game,” Gilpin said.
Textbook entries like this will become questionable at amateur and youth level and could result in a yellow card.
“The way it’s actually implemented is slightly different in community play than it is in elite play.”
While the decision will apply to all levels of amateur rugby, professional qualifications, including international tests, will not be affected.
Gilpin said the lack of medical professionals available at the amateur level necessitated the move.
“You’re in a slightly different environment, for a number of reasons, in the elite part of the game, particularly internationally, because the level of, for example, medical provision and diagnostic ability, is very different,” he said. .
“Obviously we have TV match officials, head injury assessment, the immediate care capacity on the pitch in all of elite rugby that you don’t have in community play.
“We have to recognize that they are not the same sport.”
Drew Mitchell questioned how the new tackling rules will work, calling the RFU’s move ‘dramatic’ (pictured, Wallabies’ Jed Holloway reacts after picking up Dalton Papali’i from the All Blacks last year)
Ireland’s Johnny Sexton disagrees with the new limitations, saying more players will injure their heads from wandering knees.
Former Wallabies winger Drew Mitchell has previously voiced his objections to the rule change making its way in Australia.
“I think it’s a bit dramatic. Nipple height was introduced a few years ago and was quickly discarded. I understand what they’re trying to do… but I think this one is off the mark and going too far,” she said.
There also has to be ongoing effects. If you can’t tackle anyone above the waist and every attacking player has a free hand during every run… while we’re trying to eliminate one thing, we’re opening up another.”
Ireland captain Johnny Sexton has also opposed the rule change, saying that increased leg tackles would actually increase the occurrence of concussions.
They can knee you in the head. You can receive a hip to the head. Most concussions come from that,” she said.
‘There was a study done a few years ago and a lot of red cards were given for high tackles.
‘We need to take them out of the game 100 percent, but none of them resulted in concussions…a lot of them came from the knees to the head and from the hips to the head.
“I’m not sure who sets these rules, but I don’t agree with them, especially for a taller guy like me who likes to tackle hard.”