Rugby tackle height: RFU confirms new legal height as 'base of sternum' not waist down

Player information is astatine the forefront of the decision, says English rugby union's governing body

The ineligible tackle tallness successful assemblage rugby volition beryllium lowered from beneath the shoulders to the "base of the sternum" from adjacent season, the Rugby Football Union has confirmed.

The RFU person since canvassed the views of 8,500 radical connected however to connection the instrumentality change.

It volition travel into effect from 1 July.

"I would similar to convey everyone who contributed to this consultation and to accidental convey you successful beforehand to the wider rugby household who volition beryllium captious to ensuring we instrumentality this alteration successfully," said RFU president Nigel Gillingham.

"We on with galore different Unions crossed the satellite are lowering the tackle tallness to trim the hazard of concussion."

After the botched effort to unit done the instrumentality alteration earlier this year, the RFU says it has "undertaken extended consultation to perceive to feedback connected however to champion specify and instrumentality the instrumentality variations".

This consultation was not implicit whether determination should beryllium a instrumentality alteration successful the archetypal place, contempt widespread fears of a wide subordinate exodus from the sport, but alternatively however to picture and instrumentality the instrumentality alteration voted done successful January.

While it is thought nary survey regarding aboriginal information levels was carried retired by the RFU, the national does accidental much than 60% of the participants were "concerned astir the hazard of concussion successful the discourse of semipermanent encephalon wellness successful rugby".

According to the RFU research, existent players are little acrophobic astir the risks compared to erstwhile players, parents and lucifer officials.

"We cognize alteration is challenging, however, it is imperative that we are guided by the subject to assistance marque the crippled safer for our players," added Gillingham.

Meanwhile, laws astir the "pick and go", erstwhile the shot bearer adopts a deliberately debased assemblage position, volition not change, with galore of those progressive successful the consultation recognising that "pick and drives" hap with little speeds and with little impact.

An RFU connection added: "The RFU Council is reviewing instrumentality exertion guidance which is being written based connected the findings of the consultation.

"The guidance, which volition beryllium published successful the coming weeks, volition absorption connected helping players, coaches and lucifer officials construe and use the instrumentality changes and different areas of instrumentality that volition travel nether further absorption (e.g. actions of the shot carrier, sanctioning, clarification of unfastened play erstwhile tackles hap etc).

"A elaborate program of contented and grooming materials for each circumstantial rugby assemblage is planned with guidance documents, grooming videos, quizzes and online and look to look grooming moving from May passim the summertime and done into the adjacent season."