Bad News for Tall Rugby Players

The World Rugby Executive Board has recommended that a lower legal tackle height at the sternum is made a full law of the community game. The move was proposed by the 11 unions who have been participating in trials of the measure over the last 18 months.

With 98% of the trial complete and almost 150,000 tackles measured, data shows that there are between 8-10% fewer of the highest risk “upright” tackles. Some unions also found a significant drop in concussions, whilst noting the data only covers a single season at this point.

The World Rugby Council will now consider the recommendation in June which, if approved, would become full law for the community game on 1 July 2026. Unions would still be able to use a legal tackle lower than the sternum height under the Game On Community Law variations.

Whilst still subject to further independent peer review, trials showed “high” contacts in men’s community rugby reduced by 8% in men’s rugby and 10% in women’s rugby. When scaled up to the number of community games played around the world, that represents tens of thousands of safer tackles experienced by players.

Results show similar behaviour changes in the community game (driven by the law trial) to the elite game (driven by sanctions, smart mouthguards and welfare management)

Findings also showed an increase in knee and leg level tackles which, whilst less dangerous than tackles where heads share the same space, are higher risk than tackling the midriff.

In partnership with unions around the world, World Rugby began closed trials of a lower tackle height in community rugby in 2024. The trials have so far recorded data on almost 150,000 tackles in matches in eleven different unions.

France was the first nation to use a lower tackle height in community rugby, with most of the data collected by the FFR over the years forming the basis of this trial and the proposed law change.

The results of the community tackle height trials are strikingly similar to the findings of an analysis of 20,000 elite level tackles which showed a similar reduction in upright tackles had been achieved through increased sanctions, technology such as smart mouthguards and player education.

World Rugby Chief Player Welfare and Rugby Services Officer Mark Harrington welcomed the Executive Board recommendations: “Firstly I’d to thank the unions, competitions, clubs and most importantly players and officials who have made these trials possible. We’ve seen thousands of players using better tackle technique and that has to be a good thing

“The findings are positive, and you can’t get a stronger endorsement than the 11 unions coming together to request that a lower tackle height be made full law.

“Player welfare is at the heart of everything World Rugby does, and we’re always looking for ways to make a positive difference both in the community and elite game. Our work does not stop here, and we will continue to work hard to maintain our world leading position when it comes to player safety.”