The legal tackle height in professional rugby is set to be lowered in order to reduce concussions and head injuries, say World Rugby… despite widespread criticism of the RFU’s decision to do this in the community game
- The RFU has banned tackling above the waistline in grassroots English rugby
- This was done to reduce concussions and head injuries but was widely criticised
- World Rugby said they plan to reduce the legal tackle height in the pro-game
The height at which players can legally tackle is set to be lowered at rugby’s professional level, despite the RFU’s decision to do just that in the community game being met with widespread criticism.
English rugby’s grassroots clubs have been in uproar after their governing body banned tackling above the waistline in a bid to reduce the number of concussions and head injuries.
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That ruling does not, as yet, affect elite players either in England or around the world, but World Rugby chief executive Alan Gilpin has confirmed the game’s global governing body will also bring in radical changes.
The height at which players can legally tackle is set to be lowered at rugby’s professional level
In an interview with The Daily Telegraph, Gilpin said: ‘We’re looking to make sure we are implementing a lower tackle height across all parts of the game.
‘How that’s actually implemented is slightly different in the community game to the elite game.’ Gilpin hinted the tackle height limit in the professional game would not be lowered to the waist. The current limit is shoulder height with a middle ground between the two likely to be found.
Gilpin’s admission is a huge one as the lowering of the tackle height would profoundly change professional rugby in England and across the world, but would not be brought in for some time.
World Rugby CEO Alan Gilpin confirmed they will bring in radical changes on tackle height
The decision to reduce the tackle height is being taken to reduce concussion and head injuries
The earliest the changes could be made a reality is the 2024-25 season.
World Rugby and its individual unions have held several trials in order to see how best to reduce concussion and have acted accordingly.
But the RFU decision, which will officially come into the English community game for next season, has been unpopular. Many clubs have called for a vote of no confidence in RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney as a result.