RFU Reduces Tackle Height to Improve Player Safety
Rugby Football Union (RFU) – the national governing body for rugby union in England – has announced the maximum height for tackles in the community game will be lowered to waist height from July 1st, 2023.
The community game incorporates clubs, schools, colleges and universities at both age-grade and adult levels – from National One and below in the men’s game and Championship One and lower in the women’s game. Designed to improve player safety, the RFU believes the rule change will reduce head impact, exposure, and concussion risk in tackles for both the ball carrier and tackler.
The RFU says reducing the maximum tackle height to waist height should lower injury rates. ©GettyImages
According to the RFU, evidence from studies has consistently demonstrated that higher contact on the ball carrier – and closer proximity of the ball carrier and tacklers’ heads – are associated with more sizeable head impacts and an increased risk of concussion.
Changes Designed to Minimize but Maintain
The sport’s ruling body believes lowering the height of the tackle – and encouraging the tackler to bend more at the waist – will minimize the risk of head injuries occurring while maintaining tackling as an integral part of the game.
In addition to the rule change, the RFU says ball carriers will also be encouraged to follow the principle of evasion. It is a mainstay of the game to avoid late dipping and thereby prevent situations where a bent tackler may be put at increased risk of head-on-head contact with the ball carrier – through a late or sudden change in body height of the ball carrier.
Teaching Safe Techniques Is the Priority
“Players’ welfare must always be at the center of decisions we make about how we play the game of rugby. Evidence from our research and from around the world clearly shows that lowering the tackle height will reduce head impact exposure and the risk of concussion,” said RFU President Nigel Gillingham about the law change due to be implemented from the start of the 2023/24 season.
“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.”
“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,” Gillingham concluded.
Ready for a More Fluid Game
According to the governing body, programs to support players, coaches and match officials – including detailed law application guidelines – are being developed to ensure players, match officials and volunteers will be ready for the rule change next season.
The RFU also states player welfare remains at the heart of all decision-making. It says: “By making the decision now, the RFU Council has demonstrated its continued commitment to player welfare and recognized the importance of giving coaches, match officials and players time to prepare.”
Interestingly, France – which introduced similar changes in its domestic game in 2019 – reported a 63 percent reduction in head-on-head contacts. It has also stated the change has led to a more fluid game with reduced levels of kicking, increased passing, offloads and line breaks.
