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Rugby to trial lower tackle height at elite level amid concussion concerns
Trials showed an 8-10% reduction in upright tackles and some unions reported fewer concussions, supporting player safety amid ongoing legal claims.
- Next year, the World Under-20 Championship in Georgia will trial sternum-level tackles, following the amateur game’s adoption of the rule from July as the next step before elite-level assessment.
- Concussions have become a major issue over the past decade, and more than 1,000 former players are suing rugby governing bodies, alleging brain injuries and failures to protect them, Rylands Garth says.
- Data from 11 unions that ran the trials over two seasons shows amateur players changed behavior, with upright tackles falling between 8-10%, and some unions reported concussion reductions.
- World Rugby and national unions say they await full claim details and are building initiatives, including reviewing legal tackle height and exploring smart mouthguard technology.
- Currently, elite law sets tackle height at the shoulder; Mark Harrington said, `It is important to stress that we’re a long, long way from changing the law at the elite level at this point,`.
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Associated Press News+18 Reposted by 18 other sources
Rugby to trial lower tackle height at elite level amid concussion concerns
World rugby's governing body says it remains “a long, long way” from making a law change to lower the tackle height at elite level despite “positive results” from trials in the amateur game.
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Leaning Left10Leaning Right2Center5Last UpdatedBias Distribution59% Left
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59% Left
L 59%
C 29%
12%
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