following world RugbyS declaration of an elite level trial for a lowered tackle height, we explain what the new guidance means for the sport
Since july 2023, english community rugby players have been expected to tackle below the base of the sternum. This change is in line with most unions around the globe, since World Rugby recommended a global trial of the “belly tackle” outside elite level in an effort to reduce head impacts and concussions.
The governing body has since announced that the tackle height trial will be introduced at elite level for the first time, at the World rugby U20 Championship taking place in Georgia this year.
But what does this mean for players,coaches,referees,and the watching public?
Why lower tackle height?
Table of Contents
- Why lower tackle height?
- where do the new rules apply?
- Will these rules end up in the professional game?
- The tackler (in white) is pretty upright. This looks like a penalty, at least, and if the tackle was dominant, then we might be looking at a yellow card.
The second tackler
In England,you are still allowed multiple tacklers per ball carrier. The laws apply equally. though, it is indeed still possible to rip the ball from the ball carrier. It won’t be considered a tackle, though, as the ripper won’t be impacting with their shoulder. - Read more:
Its primarily in the name of player safety. World Rugby claims that “trials over the last two seasons involving 11 unions around the world have shown that a lower legal tackle height has changed player behavior and some unions have reported a reduction in in concussion rates, albeit over a single season to date.”
The governing body also says that there has been “up to a 10 per cent reduction in the number of upright tackles” in the community game since the tackle height was lowered. It is indeed subsequently recommending that the World Rugby Council make the tackle height guidelines full law at community level from July 2026.
The U20 Championships have been chosen as a test bed because a single competition can act as a handy Petri dish for new laws.
“[this trial] allows for teams to properly prepare to play under the amended laws,” says World Rugby. “Referees will have time to focus on ensuring law is practically applied and players will not be expected to move between different law environments, which has proved a concern in the past.”
where do the new rules apply?
As well as making their elite debut in the 2026 World Rugby U20 Championship in Georgia, the rules currently apply below professional level in most countries.
In England, that’s National One down in the men’s game and Championship One down in the women’s game – in other words, players in clubs, schools, colleges, universities and throughout the community game, at both adult and age grade levels, have to make their tackles below the sternum. Coaches and players have thus needed to adjust their approach to tackle training.
Every country’s union will interpret tackle height directives slightly differently, with the English game having its own domestic law variation (DLV).
Will these rules end up in the professional game?
That depends on the outcomes of the various trials, and also consultations between World Rugby, individual unions, fans and medical professionals. As well as player welfare, the character of the sport will be factored into any decisions.
“world Rugby has always said that when it comes to player welfare we’ll prot
will help us work out the level of danger.
A passive tackle, which is one where the tackler accepts the ball carrier’s momentum, is unlikely to be high danger. If there is a head space invasion, it might just be a penalty, especially if the tackler was at least trying to get lower.
A more aggressive tackle is likelier to be yellow-carded if there is a head space invasion – if the shoulder will impact above the sternum, the heads are too close together.
The height of the ball carrier
The RFU considers the height of the ball carrier to be a potential act of foul play. A ball carrier dipping “low and late” into a tackle, leading to a head-on-head or shoulder-on-head contact, is considered a danger flag to the referee.
However, if the ball carrier moves from the back of the ruck (pick and go), this isn’t regarded as a dangerous dip because the speed is very low.
A ball carrier in open play who dips late as they are running, thus making a tackler’s job almost unachievable, coudl be penalised. That said, it will be fine if they slow up and brace for contact – after all, this is hardly a dip to move forward.
There may be rare cases of increased speed increasing danger while attempting to score a try, but ball carriers tend not to dive into a defender, aiming instead to get to get to the side. Diving and dipping for the try line are not penalised.
It looks like the ball carrier (white) has dipped, so the punishment for the left-hand tackle is unlikely to be worse than a penalty. If the ball carrier had been running with any pace and dipped, then a penalty might be awarded to the defense.
Bending
The tackler must be bending. Bending happens in two obvious places: the hips and the knees.
The referee will be looking at the angle of those hips and shoulders – the more upright the tackler, the less likely the bend.
A tackler racing off the line will find it hard to bend,so looking at the pace of the tackler again helps us to decide where problems might arise.
The most likely dangerous tackles from a height perspective come from the front or front/side (fried!) tackles. Side-on or rear tackles might end up “high”, but in most cases these will be penalties at worst, because the tackler is chasing the ball carrier, not meeting them.
The tackler (in white) is pretty upright. This looks like a penalty, at least, and if the tackle was dominant, then we might be looking at a yellow card.
The second tackler
In England,you are still allowed multiple tacklers per ball carrier. The laws apply equally. though, it is indeed still possible to rip the ball from the ball carrier. It won’t be considered a tackle, though, as the ripper won’t be impacting with their shoulder.
The lower blue tackler has made a tackle, and the second blue tackler is looking to rip the ball. if they had driven into the ball carrier, then it might very well be tackle, then rip, so a possible penalty.
England Rugby tackle height framework
This is England Rugby’s tackle height framework. You can see from the flow chart that mitigating factors are mostly dictated by the pace of either the tackler or the ball carrier.
Credit: RFU
