Ireland Rugby Football Union has released their proposed changes to laws lower tackle height as recommended by World Rugby’s Executive Board. Unions were asked to participate in an opt-in global trial of lowering the tackle height in the community/amateur game to below the sternum (also known as a “belly tackle”).
Although SA Rugby Union is still considering their options it is expected that the South African trial laws will be similar to that of Ireland. It is expected that SA Rugby Union will give clarity before February/March 2024 before amateur rugby in South Africa normally kicks into action.
This trial is primarily focused on tackle behaviour in open play, and will only apply to amateur rugby including amateur provincial teams with the following proposed changes and exclutions.
It is proposed by the IRFU that a trial change to Law 9.13 should be made, proposing that for the purpose of this trial, tackling an opponent above the line of the sternum would be penalised as foul play. World Rugby Union Law 9.13 currently states that “Dangerous tackling includes, but is not limited to tackling or attempting to tackle an opponent above the line of the shoulders even if the tackle starts below the line of the shoulders.”
Double tackles were previously targeted to be changed, however, it was decided that all legal tackles in open play should be below the line of the sternum including double tackles (simultaneous and subsequent). According to World Rugby, “Nearly half of all tackles involve more than one tackler.”
A law trial would not change the ability of an attacking team to carry out a “pick-and-go” play. A tackler remains liable to sanction if they have initiated shoulder-to-head/neck or head-to-head/neck contact. It was decided that pick-and-goes are generally lower speed impacts that do not incur the greatest risk – this trial is primarily focused on tackle behaviour in open play.
World Rugby Law 9.20.b states that “a player must not make contact with an opponent above the line of the shoulders.” No change would be proposed to this law for the purposes of this trial, meaning that contact in a ruck or maul up to the line of the shoulder would be permitted. Any player in the opinion of the referee acting in a dangerous way is liable to sanction.
Rugby Union Law 9.11 currently states that: “Players must not do anything that is reckless or dangerous to others including leading with the elbow or forearm, or jumping into, or over, a tackler. For the purposes of this trial, a strict approach would be applied to reckless or dangerous play by a ball carrier. This would include a ball carrier leading with their head or initiating contact with their head.
