Player safety is non-negotiable in a contact sport like rugby. The International Federation has therefore initiated a review of tackle height. Trials have been conducted by eleven federations over the past 18 months, yielding promising results. So much so that World Rugby has decided to test this system at the highest level during the upcoming U20 World Championships.
Fewer risky tackles
Nearly 150.000 tackles were recorded during amateur matches where players were required to tackle below the sternum. The data shows an 8 to 10% reduction in the riskiest "vertical" tackles. Some federations have observed a significant decrease in concussions, while noting that the data currently only covers one season. » explains World Rugby.
Its executive committee now recommends that the legal tackle height be permanently lowered to the sternum in amateur rugby. In a transparent manner, the FI adds that The results also showed an increase in tackles at knee and leg level, which, although less dangerous than tackles where the heads are in the same space, present a higher risk than tackles at waist level. ».
« We have seen thousands of players using better tackling technique, which is a good thing."This is a key point," emphasizes Mark Harrington, World Rugby's chief medical officer for player health and rugby services. The results are positive, and we couldn't ask for stronger support than that of the 11 unions who joined forces to demand that the reduced tackle height become a fully-fledged rule. Player safety is at the heart of everything World Rugby does, and we are always looking for ways to bring about positive change at both the amateur and elite levels. »
"If this trial yields positive results..."
World Rugby has taken another step forward by announcing an experiment during the U20 World CupThis year, in Georgia. The tournament will bring together 16 teams. Several measures already successfully tested at the amateur level will be applied: "pick and go" actions will be allowed near the rucks, ball carriers who engage in dangerous head contact will be penalized, and double tackles will be allowed, provided that the first tackler makes contact below the sternum.
« The federations, including the FFR (French Rugby Federation), have for some time wanted to explore the possibility of lowering the height of tackles in top-level rugby., agrees Abdel Benazzi, chairman of World Rugby’s men’s high performance committee. Thanks to the U20 World Championships, we can do this without requiring most players to develop in varied environments, as many will have grown up with a lower legal tackle height. »
« The trials conducted so far in amateur rugby have yielded very positive results, and we need to examine how we can use this new information for the benefit of the sport as a whole., continues Mark Harrington. It is important to emphasize that we are still a long way from changing the rules at the elite level at this stage. However, if this trial and subsequent ones yield positive results in terms of player welfare, player feedback, and fan enjoyment, then as a sport, we must commit to this path. »
