RFU to trial lower tackle height in community rugby for 2023-24 season

Following the news that New Zealand are to trial a sternum tackle height, England’s governing body, the RFU, have announced they are to trial tackle height at the waist for the whole of the community game from next season.

They say that lowering the height of the tackle and encouraging the tackler to bend more at the waist will minimise the risk of head-to-head and head-to-shoulder impacts which cause a large percentage of player injury in the community game. The RFU say their plans maintain the tackle as an integral part of the game.

The RFU Council reviewed the available data from around the global game, which shows the impact that could have if there is a reduction in head impact exposure and concussion risk in the tackle for both the ball carrier and tackler. 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 larger head impacts (as measured by smart mouthguards) and an increased risk of concussion. The RFU’s player injury data – the CRISP studies – are available here.

The RFU Council’s unanimous vote will result in law variations from next season, 2023/24, with the tackle height being set at waist height or below.

Focus on the ball carrier

The trial will see a greater focus on the actions of the ball carrier. Ball carriers will also be encouraged to follow the principle of evasion in order to avoid late dipping and avoiding situations where a bent tackler may be put at increased risk of head-on-head contact with the ball carrier. Especially if there is late or sudden change in body height of the ball carrier.

The changes will apply across England’s community game (clubs, schools, colleges and universities) at both age-grade and adult levels – National One and below in the men’s game and Championship One and below in the women’s game.

The RFU statement says they have looked at extensive research and evaluations of previous law trial changes in England, South Africa, and current trials in France and New Zealand, as well as the findings of the Orchid mouthguard study carried out in Otago, All the evidence, they say, demonstrates that a waist height tackle or below is the optimal height to provide a meaningful reduction in the height of contact on the ball carrier, a reduction in the risk of contact with the ball carrier’s head and a reduction in the risk of contact for the tackler’s head. A lower tackle height is also associated with a reduction in the magnitude of head impacts, a key target for reduction. [Here’s a video of Dr Simon Kemp from the RFU explaining more… EDIT: The RFU have removed this video from public viewing – should it reappear, we will show it below]

France, which introduced similar changes in its domestic game in 2019, reported a 63% reduction in head-on-head contacts. They also reported this move has led to a more fluid game with reduced levels of kicking, increased passing, offloads and line breaks.

Communication, training and education

Programmes 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 next season.

Guidelines to follow

The RFU expect the law variation wordings and law application guidelines to come out “in the next few weeks” to give the game plenty of time to consider, train and adapt ahead of them coming into force from 1 July 2023

A range of training and support will be put in place for players, coaches and match officials. This will include face-to-face workshops, webinars, e-learning and video guidance. Training will be rolled out from the spring, through the summer and into next season.

The RFU recognise there is more to come in terms of how the tackle is refereed, and how game plays around the try line will be officiated. The statement said, “We understand this is a significant change and the game will have questions around the detail of the new law variation, what it means for coaches and players and how the tackle will be refereed during different phases of the game, for example close to the goal line versus counter attacks in open play.”

Speaking about the law change to be implemented in season 2023/24, 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.

“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.”