WRU lowers tackle height to sternum at community level
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Welsh rugby tackle height: 'If this can reduce concussions, it's better for the game'
The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) is introducing a restriction on the height of the tackle allowed in the community game in Wales in a two-year trial.
A similar move announced in England last month was met with opposition and led to an apology from the Rugby Football Union (RFU).
The aim is to increase safety at community levels of the game.
From Saturday, 1 July tackles for male and female players older than under-12s must be below the sternum.
Anything between sternum and shoulder will result in a penalty and tackles above that area will result in the same sanctions as before, often a red card.
With the "pick and go" teams employ close to the try line as tackles are seen to be of low speed and force - such tackles above the sternum will be permitted, albeit with an element of discretion from match officials
There is an emphasis on the ball carrier not "suddenly dropping" their height prior to contact, a scenario which could result in head-on-head collisions.
The initiative means the WRU joining a World Rugby (WR) global trial aimed at dropping the game's tackle height.
Global governing body WR and national governing bodies including the WRU are facing legal action by former players in a claim for future care after diagnoses of what they allege are rugby-induced brain conditions.
The former players say they have been diagnosed with early onset dementia, external and in some case probable chronic traumatic encephalopathy., external
Former stars involved in the claim include former British and Irish Lion and Wales captain Ryan Jones, England international and World Cup winner Steve Thompson and former Wales internationals Dafydd James and Alix Popham. James also played for the Lions.
Players from rugby league and football are also involved in players in making claims against governing bodies.
The global trial the WRU is joining is viewed as a reaction to that legal action. Players from rugby league and football are also involved in similar legal action.
The Welsh men's Indigo Premiership and competition involving the Welsh rugby regions will be exempt from the trial, but all leagues below that - including schools, college and university games - will be included.
In the girls' and women's game, the trial will apply at all club and schools levels above the age of 12.
"As the guardian of the game in Wales, the WRU bears the responsibility to make it as safe and as fun as possible," said Geraint John, the WRU's community rugby director.
"Since World Rugby recommended that the tackle height in rugby should be lowered, the WRU has engaged with more than 1,000 administrators, coaches, players and referees across the country to go through the reasoning behind the change and how it will be implemented.
"As a result, from 1 July 2023 the legal tackle height for the game at large in Wales will be below the base of the sternum.
"This will apply from under-12s to Premiership (women's and girls) and Championship (male) in the community game."
In January, the RFU announced the legal tackle height will be lowered to the waist from July, prompting a backlash.
In an attempt at avoiding a similar response, the WRU promised to communicate with those throughout the sport in Wales and look to make a decision at the end of the 2022-23 season.
In their statement the WRU said it had "formally voted to opt into World Rugby's global trial to lower the tackle height in the community game to below the base of the sternum next season.
"It follows an earlier vote by the WRU to adopt the trial and an extensive community consultation process with Welsh rugby stakeholders.
"It also follows a process of engagement with over 1,000 people actively involved in the community game."
The statement added: "World Rugby and laboratory studies have shown that head injury risk is at its highest when tackles are made to the head and shoulder and lowest when tackles are made to the belly area.
The purpose of this trial is to ultimately reduce incidents of head-on-head impact in the tackle and to incentivise greater use of the belly tackle."
The statement, external also says:
70% of concussions occur in the tackle
Trials in France resulted in a 64% reduction in head-on-head contacts and a 23% reduction on concussions.
The risk of concussion is 4.2 times higher when the tackler's head is above the ball carrier's sternum
Research shows that lowering the tackle height protects both the ball carrier and the tackler from head-to-head contact
The player that has most of the risk is the tackler
It is a small adjustment for the tackler and still gives him / her a large target area to aim at.
John added: "As well as having a big impact on player safety, reducing concussions and head-on-head contact. this change is also expected to have positive technical and tactical implications for the game.
"There is likely to be an increase in the rate of offloads and a rise in line breaks, making the game more enjoyable.
"With more passes, offloads and potentially tries in a game, it should be more fun to play and watch. This has proven to be the case in French rugby.
"The continuity within the game is likely to increase through a decrease in the number of rucks."