Trials get WR backing

NEWS EXTRA

WORLD Rugby has unanimously approved a recommendation that unions participate in trials of ‘belly tackles' in the community game to reduce concussions.

The opt-in trial aims to improve player safety by reducing head-on-head contact, with results to be reviewed in early 2025.

The RFU announced that players will only be able to tackle from the base of the sternum from July in the community game, impacting age-grade and adult levels – from National 1 and below in the men's game and Championship 1 and below in the women's game.

The new trial will allow member nations the freedom to set a legal tackle height at that point or below and also set secondary laws governing associated areas of the game such as pick and go, double tacklers and ball carriers dipping into contact.

“We anticipate that the trial will take time to settle,” said World Rugby chairman Sir Bill Beaumont. “Throughout this process we have been guided by the science to help make the game safer for our players and the evidence is unequivocal.”

World Rugby say they would support closed trials at the elite level should a union or competition wish to run one.