The rugby world debates high tackles – they look into lowering height to reduce injuries

After reviewing a number of independent studies on the relationship between tackles and injuries, the world rugby (WR) recommended that member federations limit the height of the takedown technique and place it below the sternum. Each Union must decide its position also in establishing the height, but that of Argentina is one of the three that make up the Top 10 that has not pronounced itself on the matter.

Since 2019, amateur rugby in France, South Africa, Georgia and Fiji have implemented the restriction provided to the WR by the data leading to the recommendation made in March: the number of head impacts and, consequently, the cases of concussion have been reduced cerebral. “The many pilot tests in France are also showing positive results in terms of player experience and participation in the game in the community”the entity said in a statement.

In May, World Rugby will determine whether the suggestion becomes a rule. In that case, each Union will choose to participate in a test “supported by a comprehensive educational roadmap for local implementation at all grassroots levels of sport”according to the federation, which will also encourage each country to carry out formal research on the impact of innovation.

“The most common injury is head trauma and bruises. We find that if we can prevent head collisions, we significantly reduce those injuries. We were testing a recommendation for below the waist tackling at the Community Games in France and it greatly reduced butt smacking, thus reducing concussions. Also, the game is smoother, there are more off-loads, the ball opens more,” said the director of Player Welfare and Rugby Services at the WR, Mark Harrington when requested by www.srcum.com.

“In 2016, there were 611 injuries, 464 of which resulted from a tackle. More injuries occur when the contrast is higher than when it’s at the knee. hemispheres and we repeat it in 2022. These four studies combined provided a total of 878 head injuries resulting from tackles and we compared this to the more than 9,000 tackles that were made and resulted in no injury. There was a 63% improvement in headshot reduction when the tackle height was lowered. With that, bruises dropped to 27 percent,” the data offered Ross Tuckerfrom the same department.

In this sense the neurologist of the FLENI institute Fernando Salvat – also consulted by scrum.com– revealed that in this body they have begun to carry out studies on former players aged between 35 and 75 who have practiced the sport continuously for five years. They do an MRI and blood draw, and complete the work with a neurological and cognitive evaluation.

“Over the next 12 years we will recall them every two years, to make a longitudinal follow-up over time: we want to follow how the brains of people who have been exposed to those that have been removed in a contact sport such as rugby evolve. “, detailed Salvat.

“If we want our sport to continue to grow, we need to make sure we are accessible and relevant to more people around the world. With compelling new evidence showing that a lower legal tackle height means a lower risk of head injury, as well as more people playing, we can’t afford to do nothing.” Alan GilpinCEO of World Rugby.

“The proposed height adjustment of the tackle has already produced positive results in terms of form and playing experience; this is essential for the future of rugby. The evidence we have, especially from France, shows that lowering the height not only makes the game safer, but also increases the number of players. This must be the goal of everyone involved in our game,” assured the WR president, Bill Beaumontas an anticipation of what will happen in May with the standard.