Australian Rugby set to be forced into waist-high tackle restrictions by World Rugby

Park foot and junior players will not be allowed to tackle above the waist after World Rugby confirmed it could test a change to the legal height at community level in every country around the world.

Rugby Football Union [RFU] recently announced that the change would be implemented for amateur players of all ages starting July 1.

While Rugby Australia has previously said it has no intention of applying the same legalities to the game, the world governing body appears keen to force Australian players to adhere to the new restrictions.

A lazy arm or tackle that slips off the ball and results in contact with the shoulders or higher, like this one from England’s Danny Care on Wallaby Jordan Petaia, could result in red cards.

World Rugby chief executive Alan Gilpin told the Sydney Morning Herald that World Rugby would follow the RFU’s lead with a judgment of no tackling above the waist at amateur level in a global legal trial from 1 January 2024.

Under the proposal, a certain amount of leeway would apply with the warnings to be issued, however shots around the torso would attract yellow cards and high shots would be unlawful and an automatic red card.

“Yeah, we want to make sure we implement a lower tackle height in all parts of the game,” Gilpin said.

“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.

Tackles with the arms around the waist will become common, like this attempted tackle by former Wallaby Nathan Sharpe on Sonny Bill Williams.

Gilpin said the lack of medical professionals available at the amateur level necessitated the move.

“You’re in a slightly different environment, for various reasons, in the elite part of the game, particularly at the international level, because the level of, for example, medical provision, diagnostic ability, etc., 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.”

Textbook entries like this will become questionable at amateur and youth level and could result in a yellow card.

Rugby fans are not impressed by the move to wrap players in cotton and argued that more tackles around the legs would lead to more injuries.

“Any rugby player can put themselves in a dangerous position at any height they face an opponent,” argues one fan.

‘I predict referees will give random penalties to alter the momentum of international Rugby and give favored nations an advantage. This rule change could lead to more broken bones.

Another argues that: ‘It’s not to prevent injuries. There will still be injuries, and maybe MORE knee injuries than ever.

Mitchell has questioned how the new tackling rules will work, calling the RFU’s move “dramatic” before World Rugby expanded tackling limits to everyone.

Earlier, Wallabies winger Drew Mitchell had voiced his objections to the rule change heading to Australia.

“I think it’s a bit dramatic. Nipple height was introduced a few years ago and was quickly discarded. I understand what they are trying to do… but I think this is misplaced 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.”

Sexton loves to tackle and be tackled and disagrees with the new limitations, saying more players will get hurt if errant knees hit them in the head.

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 there were a lot of red cards given for high tackles and 100 percent we need to take them out of the game, but none of them resulted in concussions while a lot of them came from knees to head and hips to 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.”