Height of tackle

[Old Hob]

Part of the problem stems from the basic difficulty of phrasing realistic laws involving dynamic events. Years ago, I was asked to draw up some rules for dealing with fire in a residential home for people with severe learning difficulties. Some clients were bed-ridden and 18 stone plus, some mobile, all had fire doors on their rooms. 1 member of staff slept in. Small fire - tackle it (but what's small?) Always call fire brigade; Bigger fire- try/don't try to put it out depending. evacuate/don't evacuate. Answer? Do something intelligent.
What will happen when two tacklers approach an opponent from opposite sides? Can two modern sized players fit between Christian Wades' shoulder and hip?

[Broadstaff]

Like you, I'm running out of straws to clear. The game gets more like League every year.

Have to say, the League I watch is nothing like Union. They hit them round the head and neck all the time and that is accepted.

[AngusMcCoatup]

According to the RFU Medical Services Director Simon Kemp, Nigel Melville and others they report -
"The RFU is committed to protecting player welfare and has implemented expert researched player safety and well being programmes across the game.
They are therefore implementing together with PRL and World Rugby two trial schemes for the 2018/19 season.
In order to minimise these high tackles for all games in the Aviva Premiership, PRO14, Top14, Six Nations and European Championship the epaulettes and shoulders of all jersey's will be in bright Aviva yellow.
This will significantly assist the match officials and TMO in identifying these high tackles and their elimination.
Furthermore the above Rugby bodies have teamed up with Ross Brawn of the FIA and his team to research and expand the advantages of their new technically innoventive head injury protection "Halo" device within the game. The RFU. and Premiership Rugby Ltd. will in 2018/19 trial these "Halo" devices with Premiership Clubs in all games with Northampton Saints and Bath Rugby.
Northampton's DOR said they are well used to the Halo whereas Bath's DOR regarded themselves to already be "Head & Shoulders above all other clubs, salary caps and any co-operation!"

[strawclearer]

According to the RFU Medical Services Director Simon Kemp, Nigel Melville and others they report -
"The RFU is committed to protecting player welfare and has implemented expert researched player safety and well being programmes across the game.
They are therefore implementing together with PRL and World Rugby two trial schemes for the 2018/19 season.
In order to minimise these high tackles for all games in the Aviva Premiership, PRO14, Top14, Six Nations and European Championship the epaulettes and shoulders of all jersey's will be in bright Aviva yellow.
This will significantly assist the match officials and TMO in identifying these high tackles and their elimination.
Furthermore the above Rugby bodies have teamed up with Ross Brawn of the FIA and his team to research and expand the advantages of their new technically innoventive head injury protection "Halo" device within the game. The RFU. and Premiership Rugby Ltd. will in 2018/19 trial these "Halo" devices with Premiership Clubs in all games with Northampton Saints and Bath Rugby.
Northampton's DOR said they are well used to the Halo whereas Bath's DOR regarded themselves to already be "Head & Shoulders above all other clubs, salary caps and any co-operation!"

I always worry that someone in the RFU will adopt such a crazy idea - forgetting to check the date beforehand!

[wellstiger]

Oh dear oh dear.

If we carry on in this vane we will be an equivalent to football - which is fast becoming rugby ( If grabbing players carries on).
We play and support a contact sport. Players have a duty of care and sometimes get it wrong in being competitive.
If we legislate for every conceivable situation where a potential for injury may happen, then we are going to reduce the game to a non physical Non contact sport.
I welcome the rules in place to reduce head injuries. Lets not go Health and Safety mad by reducing the level of tackles even further.

Just an aside. When jerseys were loose fitting, you could tackle by good grip to cloth. New tight fitting jerseys aid attack - not so defense. Therefore tackle strategy has changed.

[LE18]

I thought that after watching the weekend matches that there were far less high tackles made, could players be learning to keep the tackles down, and especially seat belt tackles?

[drc_007]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/43831014
A brain injury has forced Dragons centre Adam Hughes to retire from rugby, after receiving advice from a specialist.

I suspect we may see more of this.

[jgriffin]

Just an aside. When jerseys were loose fitting, you could tackle by good grip to cloth. New tight fitting jerseys aid attack - not so defense. Therefore tackle strategy has changed.

This is definitely a factor, as is the increased influence of RL, the influx of South Seas players like Lima (although good bosh has always been around), the reluctance of the RFU to confront the failure of the 'breakdown' in protecting players (e.g. the flying shoulder) and return to strict binding engagement....the list is endless. The Law makers are IMO to blame for all this, and much was predictable by allowing the game to get less aerobic, as well as coaching focusing on extremes of muscularity and lean body mass.

[Rugbyflanker]

Correct,the new breakdown laws have now seen a significant increase in the number of tackles with teams just fanning out!

[jgriffin]

Correct,the new breakdown laws have now seen a significant increase in the number of tackles with teams just fanning out!

I believe Jamie Roberts said 50%!
I know it's 'old player' stuff, but when it was a foot-ruck, tackle and release was enforced, and to keep possession you had to get players over or beyond the ball, usually pushing the opposition (the old clear out and away), so you had to be fast and commit players - thus increasing space. Now we often see no real challenge (which is why I love a proper 7, to draw in attackers) and it becomes just bish-bosh, with concomitant injuries.

[Rugbyflanker]

There is nothing better than seeing a good 7,i always remember Evans tackling Morgan on his debut then getting up and turning him over,ridiculously not allowed now!

[4071]

This happens, I'm gone. The changes to rugby have mullered the game (ruck, scrum, offside) and that would be the last straw.

Did you even read the proposal? It was all about trying to get players to tackle lower, not penalizing low tackles.

Making the legal height slightly lower - to below the line of the shoulders, as suggested - would help.

It would probably have a knock-on effect (so to speak) in that it would make it easier to offload out of the tackle if you get your arms up as tackles would have to be around chest height rather than shoulder height.