World Rugby statement: 'No immediate plan to implement blanket elite game tackle height reduction'
World Rugby have insisted there are no immediate plans to lower the legal tackle height in elite rugby around the globe. An interview published by the UK Telegraph suggested that such a change was potentially in the pipeline, but it has now been clarified that no immediate change is imminent.
World Rugby told RugbyPass in a statement: “World Rugby is committed to the highest standards of welfare for participants at all levels.
“While lowered tackle height is currently being explored with unions at the community level, as World Rugby CEO Alan Gilpin explained, there are no immediate plans to implement blanket tackle height reductions in the elite level of the game as outlined. We will, however, never stand still when it comes to the safety and well-being of all participants.”
Tackle height has been a major debate this past week ever since the RFU revealed it will reduce the tackle height to the waist for its community game in England from the summer of 2023 onwards. In his Telegraph interview, Gilpin backed the RFU initiative but suggested any potential change in the elite game would be different if it ever happened.
“Yes, we are looking to make sure that we are implementing a lower tackle height across all parts of the game. How that is actually implemented is slightly different in the community game to the elite game,” he said.
“You are in a slightly different environment, for a number of reasons, in the elite part of the game, particularly at an international level, because the level of – for example – medical provision, diagnostic ability etc, is very different.We obviously have TMO, HIA, the ability for immediate pitch-side care in all of elite level rugby that you don’t have in the community game. We have got to recognise that they’re not the same sport.”
With regard to what the RFU have planned for its community game from the 2023/24 season onwards, Gilpin added: “The RFU obviously is in the process of implementing some changes around tackle height that we support. Because we know, from all of the research and science and medicine, that lowering the tackle height is a really important part of making the game safer.
“There is a lot of work to do to educate people. But we have got to, as a sport, try to find that really difficult but hugely-important balance between safety but making the game entertaining to watch. It’s not binary. It’s not one or the other. It’s how do we make the game safer and a better spectacle to watch and a better game to play? It’s tough because it’s a really, really complex message to deliver. On one level, it’s very simple.
“We know from all the research that has been done and is incredibly comprehensive, you are four-and-a-half times more likely to sustain a head injury when you tackle from an upright position than when the tackler is bent at the waist.
“We need to get players tackling lower at every part of the game. Obviously, there is an elite part of the game where we are doing a huge amount of work and we have used sanctions, and red cards in particular, trying to drive changes in behaviour.
“When you look at the community game, it’s challenging to roll that out on a global basis. It requires significant buy-in from the game in different parts of the world. You will always have the traditionalists, I guess, who understandably say, ‘Stop tweaking things and don’t change too much, because we’re really concerned about losing the inherent fabric of the sport’ – and we all absolutely get that.
“At the same time, we have got to make sure that we are attracting people to the sport that is safe to play – or is as safe to play as a sport that’s a contact one can be. There is always work to do in implementing change and how you can consult around change and how you communicate and educate around change.
“But the key message is let’s get the tackle height lower at every level of the game because that will reduce – absolutely reduce- the number of head injuries that we see in rugby. And that’s really important if, again, we’re going to win the battle for the hearts and minds of not just the young people we want to play the game, boys and girls, but the mums and dads who may be concerned about injuries in rugby.
“So, we have got a responsibility from a World Rugby perspective, to work hard with our member federations around the world. That communication challenge is tougher in places where rugby’s got a long heritage and history and is played in significant numbers, and that’s what the RFU is experiencing in this last week or so.”
Comments on RugbyPass
1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
54 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
54 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
54 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
54 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
54 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
54 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
54 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to comments