RFU sorry for 'anger and concern' created by handling of tackle height decision

Harlequins and England prop Joe Marler (middle) was among those to explicit interest with the RFU's determination to trim the tackle tallness successful English assemblage rugby

The Rugby Football Union has apologised for its handling of their determination to instrumentality caller laws connected tackle tallness successful the English assemblage game.

But the determination has been met with disapproval from a fig of clubs, players and coaches.

The RFU person released a connection saying atrocious for the "anger and concern" it had created.

Implementation of the caller rules would impact clubs successful divisions beneath the Premiership, Championship and Premier 15s.

English rugby's governing assemblage said erstwhile they announced the changes that it would amended subordinate safety, peculiarly astir the contented of caput wounded and concussion, which has been a constituent of interest astatine each levels of rugby.

Those captious of the projected changes deemed it would beryllium unworkable and expressed fearfulness implicit a wide subordinate departure from the sport.

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In a connection released connected Friday, successful effect to the backlash, the RFU added: "In our tendency to enactment rapidly to trim caput impacts and concussions successful the assemblage game, which represents 99% of the rugby playing colonisation successful England, we person upset galore of you who are the champions, volunteers, and ambassadors of our game.

"We afloat admit we got the engagement wrong, and we are genuinely sorry."

The RFU says it volition present statesman a process of consultation with players, coaches and lucifer officials successful bid to enactment retired the champion mode to bounds the hazard of caput injuries successful the sport.

"In making our determination we were alert that France person lowered the tackle height, New Zealand volition beryllium doing truthful and World Rugby supports this approach," the RFU added.

"We, similar the French, utilized the word "waist and below"; this has caused misunderstanding and confusion.

"We would present similar the crippled to assistance america specify however we picture a little tackle tallness to bespeak what the probe is telling america successful a mode that is understood by all.

"Consequently, the hazard of caput injuries should beryllium reduced if tackling beneath that optimum height. We volition present statesman a bid of forums and workshops with players, coaches, lucifer officials and volunteers, to explicate and make the details of the home instrumentality variation."

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