Lower tackle height to be trialled at World Rugby U20s in 2026

World Rugby will trial a lower legal tackle height at the sternum during the 2026 World Rugby U20 Championship in Georgia, marking the first time the measure has been tested at elite level.

The decision follows two seasons of community trials across 11 unions, which showed changes in player behaviour and reports from some unions of reduced concussion rates over a single season.

Data from the community game indicated an 8 to 10 per cent drop in upright tackles.

The U20 Championship will also trial associated law measures, including sanctions for ball carriers who lead dangerously with the head, permission for double tackles where the first contact is below the sternum, and allowances for pick and go situations close to the line.

World Rugby said the closed competition environment would allow consistent application, focused referee preparation and targeted education for players and officials. The outcomes will be assessed against safety and spectacle metrics before any further elite trials are considered.

World Rugby Chairman Dr Brett Robinson said: “Player welfare is at the heart of everything World Rugby does. We’ll leave no stone left unturned in our efforts to make the game as safe as it can be. Having said that, protecting what makes rugby, rugby is a vital part of my role. We’ll undertake this trial, study it closely to ensure we have a game and a U20 Championship that excites players and fans alike.”

World Rugby Chief Player Welfare and Rugby Services Officer Mark Harrington said “World Rugby has always said that when it comes to player welfare we’ll protect the character of our game and we will always follow the science. The trials so far in the community game have shown some really positive results and we need to look at how we can use that new information to benefit the game as a whole.

“Unions have asked us to trial a lower tackle height at the elite level and the U20 Championship is the best place to begin that journey. It is important to stress that we’re a long, long way from changing the law at the elite level at this point. However, if this and subsequent trials show positive results across all player welfare, player feedback and fan enjoyment perspectives, then as a sport we need to embrace that.”

Chair of World Rugby’s Men’s High Performance Committee and FFR representative Abdel Benazzi said “Unions, including the FFR, have been keen to explore a lower tackle height in the elite game for some time. Especially after the success we have achieved in our own community game. Through the U20 World Championships we can achieve this without asking most players to play in a variety of environments and many will have grown up with a lower legal tackle height. We look forward to seeing the outcomes next year.”