Saturday 7 January 2017 16:50, UK
Referee John Lacey joined Sky Sports ahead of the Ospreys' PRO12 clash with Connacht to explain the changes to rules regarding high tackles.
World Rugby have introduced tough new sanctions regarding head-high tackles. There are two new categories: accidental and reckless.
World Rugby states that "if a player makes accidental contact with an opponent's head, even if contact starts below the line of shoulders, the player may still be sanctioned".
For the more serious offence of reckless play, where a player knew or should have known there was a risk of making contact with the head, but did so anyway, the maximum sanction is a red card.
For example, Malakai Fekitoa was sin-binned during the All Blacks' November win over Ireland in Dublin for a high tackle on Simon Zebo, but under the new rules he would receive a red card.
"There is just a real focus on the tackle area, especially around high shots, charging with the shoulder and any type of tackles that are dangerous around the head area," said Lacey.
The new laws have already caused controversy, with two players sin-binned during the Scarlets' win over Ulster on Friday night.
Click on the video to watch John Lacey's explanation of the new tackle laws, followed by Scott Quinnell and Alan Quinlan's analysis of the incidents during the Scarlets v Ulster.
