20 January 2023 , 15:56
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The Rugby Football Union (RFU) have announced plans to lower the legal tackle height in the community game to the waistline from July 1, 2023.
In a statement, the RFU said the move "aims to reduce head impact exposure and concussion risk in the tackle for both the ball carrier and tackler", with their council unanimously voting through the proposal.
The change will apply to all age grade and adult amateur rugby in England, with the RFU stating that studies have shown "higher contact on the ball carrier and closer proximity of the ball carrier and tacklers' heads are associated with larger head impacts ... and an increased risk of concussion.".
RFU President Nigel Gillingham said: "Players' welfare must always be at the centre of decisions we make about how we play the game of rugby. 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.
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"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."
However, there has been some criticism of the proposal, with Australia and London Irish prop Oliver Hoskins tweeting: "I was part of the trial of similar laws during the Championship Cup season a few years ago… we literally had exponentially more concussions because of it. Tackle choice is situational and forcing low tackles in all cases is even more dangerous I think the trial showed this".
England cricket captain Ben Stokes, whose father Ged saw his rugby league career end when he broke his neck in a tackle, echoed Hoskins' thoughts as he tweeted: "Let's lower the tackle height but bring in a higher chance of the attackers knees hitting defenders in the head. And also let's take out any consideration for instinctive athleticism in the heat of sport. My Dad's professional career got ended earlier due to a broken neck from a knee to the head whilst tackling. Would you rather concussion or broken neck?"
Concussion awareness group Progressive Rugby, who are in favour of changing the tackle height to armpits and below, have asked the RFU to release the data which led to their decision. In a statement, they said: "We are naturally supportive of decisions made in the interests of player welfare.
"However, as yet the group have been unable to satisfactorily scrutinise the data on which this decision has been based. While initial thoughts are cautiously positive, members do have matters requiring clarification that we will endeavour to discuss with the RFU."