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International

New tackle height among five law changes confirmed by World Rugby

Josh Raisey

Published: 17 June 2026 10:46 CDT

Referee Angus Gardner reacts during the round 13 Super Rugby match between Crusaders and Blues at One NZ Stadium, on May 08, 2026, in Christchurch, New Zealand. (Photo by Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images)

World Rugby have approved a permanent reduction in the legal tackle height in community rugby following successful trials involving more than 150,000 tackles across 10 unions over the past two years.

The law, which comes into force from July 1 for seasons beginning after that date, will allow unions to choose a legal tackle height of either the waist or the base of the sternum. The decision was ratified by the World Rugby Council in Dublin.

According to World Rugby, the trials demonstrated that lowering the tackle height reduced the number of upright tackles, which are considered the most likely to result in avoidable head impacts.

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The governing body will also begin testing a lower tackle height in the elite game, with initial trials set to take place at the World Rugby Junior World Championship in Georgia later this month.

Several other law trials were also adopted into full law, including the scrum brake foot, restrictions on water carriers entering the field of play, the formal recognition of the television match official as part of the officiating team, and the continued option for elite competitions to use 20-minute red cards if they choose.

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“Player welfare is at the heart of everything that rugby does. I welcome the adoption of a lower tackle height into community law,” World Rugby chairman Brett Robinson said.

“I would like to thank all the unions and academics and most importantly players and referees who took part in the trials that have helped us to reach this point.

“The trials from around the world show that this is the right thing to do to make our game safer and more enjoyable for community players who are the lifeblood of our sport.

“Rugby has always led the way when it comes to making considered changes to improve the welfare of our players and alongside provisions such as smart mouthguards in the elite game, we’ve shown time and again that we’ll make the big calls and that we’re getting them right, backed by the evidence.”

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Comments

29 Comments

aO 29 days ago

I'm concerned that it is only the tackled player is of concern. The tackler is also now more at risk of head hitting the hip of knees of the player with the ball. We have seen this on many occasions. It's the shenanigans at the ruck I believe my be the time to try to mitigate shoulder on heads etc. Refs are not stopping the opposing continuing to agitated even after the contest for the ball is over. It gives opportunities for hand in the ruck, under cover injuries etc.

unknown 33 days ago

The intention is fine .

A lot of accidental head contact . Ball carriers often are head first .

RW 33 days ago

What these guys forget is whenever a tackler commits to a tackle, he will always ALWAYS go in head first no matter what he considers to be the point of impact of the opposition player. He might not hit the opposition player's head but his is ALWAYS in a high risk situation. Players across the board know this. If they want to play rugby the risk is high. Do what you like, but head injuries will always be prevalent for that simple reason.

Also TMOs are ruining the game, they can be an official part of the team but they MUST be in the background, only voicing opinions when asked. Also they MUST vet the TMOs. TMOs in my opinion must have done some on-field reffing at some point in their lives otherwise they won’t understand how an on-field ref thinks. Thus their constant desire to overrule a ref's on field calls will not take precedent, otherwise why have an on-field refs at all. TMOs must only make a call if asked. The final decision must be given back to the ref, and their authority MUST not be undermined by some unknown person with 35 TV screens.

Mitch 33 days ago

I understand the need to protect players and the safety of the ball carrier, but what are you going to do when tacklers start getting concussed as a result of these new laws? FFS, its high time people grew up and realised that there’s only so much you can do to make an inherently unsafe game perfectly safe.

J Marc 33 days ago

These changes had been tested in Six nations festival U18, Men and Women, and in Six nations séries U20 Women. It was not a révolution… It seems to me the U20 World championship should have been the final test ,but maybe I am wrong.

JW 33 days ago

What makes you think you’ll be wrong? Don’t think the tackle height is a good change? Sorry might not follow your english.

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