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The legal tackle height in professional rugby will be lowered to reduce concussions and head injuries, World Rugby says… despite widespread criticism of the RFU’s decision to do this in community play.
- The RFU have banned tackles above the waist in English grassroots rugby
- This was done to reduce concussions and head injuries, but it was heavily criticized.
- World Rugby said they plan to lower the legal tackle height in the professional game
The height at which players can legally tackle will be lowered at professional rugby level, despite the fact that the RFU’s decision to do exactly that in community play has met with widespread criticism.
English grassroots rugby clubs have been in an uproar after their governing body banned tackles above the waist in a bid to reduce the number of concussions and head injuries.
That ruling does not, so far, affect elite players in England or around the world, but World Rugby chief executive Alan Gilpin has confirmed that the game’s world governing body will also introduce sweeping changes.
The height at which players can legally tackle will be reduced at professional rugby level.
In an interview with the daily telegraphGilpin said: ‘We’re looking to make sure we’re implementing a lower tackle height into all parts of the game.
“The way it’s actually implemented is slightly different in community play than it is in elite play.” Gilpin hinted that the tackle height limit in the professional game would not be lowered to the waist. The current limit is shoulder height, and it’s likely that you’ll find a happy medium between the two.
Gilpin’s admission is huge, as lowering the tackle height would profoundly change professional rugby in England and around the world, but it would not be implemented for some time.
World Rugby CEO Alan Gilpin has confirmed that they will introduce sweeping changes to tackle height
The decision to lower the tackle height is being made to reduce concussions and head injuries.
The earliest the changes could become a reality is the 2024-25 season.
World Rugby and its individual unions have carried out various tests to see how best to reduce concussion and have acted accordingly.
But the decision of the RFU, which will officially enter the English community game for next season, has been unpopular. As a result, many clubs have called for a vote of no confidence in RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney.