The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) has announced a major law change that will impact tackling for players. Starting from July 1, 2023, community rugby in Wales will adopt World Rugby’s global trial to lower the tackle height to below the base of the sternum. This law change has been formally voted in by the WRU and will run through the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons. The trial is aimed at reducing head-on-head contact during tackles and decreasing concussion numbers. Additionally, the change may also speed up the game by encouraging more offloads and line breaks, while reducing the number of rucks.
The trial will apply to all community games, from U12 age-grade through Premiership (women’s and girls) and Championship (men’s), including rugby in schools, colleges, and universities. The WRU has decided that existing pathway tackle laws of waist height and below will stay in place for U12s, and Premiership sides will be excluded from the trial at this stage.
According to the WRU, the primary purpose of this trial is to reduce incidents of head-on-head impact in tackles and incentivize greater use of the belly tackle. It cites World Rugby and studies that show that head injury risk is highest when tackles are made to the head and shoulder and lowest when tackles are made to the belly area. The voting formalizes an earlier vote and an extensive community consultation process with Welsh rugby stakeholders and over 1000 people involved in the community game.
WRU community rugby director Geraint John believes that this change will increase player safety, reduce concussions and head-to-head contact, and have positive technical and tactical implications for the game, which is expected to be more fun to play and watch. However, there may be some disruption in the first 12 weeks with more penalties initially. It could take three years to fully embed the new policy.
Upon observing other governing bodies embracing the trial from this summer, the WRU advises that there could be a blatant lack of tackling technique and that player security will be enhanced. More people are expected to play the game. John stated that the WRU had already done a lot of work with coaches across the country, and this would continue to embed not only the new law but also the technical aspects of tackle technique. The referees have also been working hard on their interpretation of the new law, and coaches and teachers will be educated on how best to tackle safely with correct technique.
In summary, the WRU has opted in to World Rugby’s trial to reduce head-on-head contact during tackles. The trial will apply to all community games from U12 age-grade through Premiership (women’s and girls) and Championship (men’s), including rugby in schools, colleges, and universities. The change may initially result in more penalties, but it is expected to increase player safety, reduce concussions and head-to-head contact, and have positive technical and tactical implications for the game.
