The RFU voted unanimously to lower the legal tackle-height in the amateur game to the waist; The change has faced backlash from community clubs across England and the RFU have said there will be "more discussions" to follow
Thursday 26 January 2023 17:39, UK
The Rugby Football Union could face a no-confidence vote from grassroots clubs amid growing opposition to plans for a radical tackle-height change.
It was announced last week tackling above the waist will be banned in community rugby in a move unanimously approved by Rugby Football Union Council members.
The legislation was brought in by the RFU in an attempt to support player welfare, notably reducing head impact exposure and will apply across the community game - clubs, schools, colleges and universities at both age-grade and adult levels - covering National One division and below in the men's game and Championship One and below in the women's game.
However, many clubs have been angered at what they see as a lack of consultation.
The Community Club's Union (CCU) - a group set up in the wake of that announcement - is writing to the RFU requesting a special general meeting (SGM), having received the backing of nearly 250 clubs.
An SGM requires the support of 100 members of the union.
In its latest update on tackle height, the RFU said: "We understand the rugby community has a range of questions in reaction to the recent announcement that the tackle height is to be lowered across the community game from next season.
"We recognise the change is challenging, and the community game has understandably provided significant feedback on the change.
"However, the large body of scientific evidence strongly indicates that it will reduce the incidence of head injuries in the community game.
"There will be further discussions with Council members during the next few days before further details on the intent and details around the changes are published to the wider game.
"We consider the decision to reduce the tackle height to be the start of the process, to allow for a period of engagement in the coming weeks with groups of coaches, players and referees, drawn from across the country and from all levels
of the game, including the men's women's and age-grade game, over the detail, intent and implications of the law change, before finalising it."
Meanwhile, a Conservative former minister has warned of a player exodus to rugby league if the RFU pushes ahead with the changes.
Speaking in the Commons, Stephen Crabb, MP for Preseli Pembrokeshire, congratulated Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle on becoming the new president of the Rugby Football League before adding: "I suspect your form of the game is going to see a big influx of new players as the English Rugby Football Union seeks to rewrite the rules of the union game.
"So could I ask the minister that given that 75,000 players, coaches, supporters of the union game have already signed a petition rejecting the new rules, does he agree with me that the RFU should think again, should work more collaboratively with the grassroots across all home nations and ensure all steps taken to improve player safety are consistent, workable and don't lead to a player exodus?"
Sports minister Stuart Andrew replied: "I can assure (Mr Crabb) that we continue to work with sports, and that includes the RFU, to ensure that player safety is prioritised and I will certainly raise the points he has raised in my next meeting with them."
Mark Pawsey, the Conservative MP for Rugby in Warwickshire, also said: "We've already heard about the RFU changes in the tackle law for rugby and we understand that that's in the interests of making the game safer, but we've heard about concerns amongst players more broadly.
"There is another issue which is that since the elite game is administered internationally, the new laws will only apply at a community level and many players - both elite and community players - believe this is wrong.
"Would the minister or the Secretary of State (Michelle Donelan) agree in principle that the rules and laws of any sport should apply equally to all of those who take part?"
Mr Andrew, in his reply, said: "These national governing bodies, international governing bodies are independent of government but he raises very important points that - as I committed a moment ago - I'll be more than happy to raise in
my next meeting with the RFU and perhaps he and I could have further discussion about this in due course."
Backlash has not only come from the amateur game, with Ireland skipper Johnny Sexton making it clear he very much disagreed with the rule change and rather believed that it may only increase the number of concussions happening in the amateur game.
When asked whether it would make a difference, Sexton said: "Not at all. Definitely not.
"You can get a knee in the head. You can get a hip in the head. Most concussions come from those.
"There was a study done a few years ago and there were a lot of red cards given for high tackles and 100 per cent we need to get them out the game, but none of them resulted in concussions, whereas a lot of them came from knees to the head and hips to the head.
"I am not sure who puts these rules in place but I don't agree with them, especially for a taller man like myself who likes to tackle hard."
England and Leicester scrum-half Ben Youngs has stressed the importance of finding the right 'balance' between improving safety within rugby and and preserving the best of the sport in order to continue attracting new players and fans.
"I take my son to grassroots rugby on a Sunday, he is only doing tag at the moment," said Youngs. "I think it is really important that we probably get a little bit more clarity about where the tackle height is.
"I know we are saying hips but I think for junior levels, for youngsters, it is not natural for people to be diving at knees and hips. Naturally they are stood up a bit more so if we could get a bit more shoulders and below, and have a bit more clarity.
"The last thing we want to do is be putting people off the game. Not through injury but actually through the fact they are having to be sent off to the sideline every couple of minutes.
"Or if someone can't quite get to grasp with being low enough and then they are put off rugby because they never get to play because they are constantly being told off by the ref or the coach.
"I think we have got to get that balance really right and it is a fine line. I am all for making the game safer, of course I am. I am a father, I want my kids to be safe, but I also want them to play rugby.
"It is a contact sport, it is a great sport. It gives so much in terms of values, teamwork, camaraderie and all those bits and you have got to get the balance.
"Yes, there is a risk to my son running around but also there is a huge amount of benefits of working in a team and doing all that.
"A bit more clarity around it would be great and that isn't me speaking as a professional rugby player, that is me speaking as a father who takes his son to Sunday rugby."
