The debate around safety in grassroots rugby has once again taken center stage following the recommendation by the World Rugby Executive Council to introduce a lower tackle height — specifically, at sternum level — within the laws of the community game. The proposal, driven by eleven unions that participated in trials over the past 18 months, is grounded in concrete data and a shared concern: protecting those who uphold the heart of the sport, the players who compete every weekend in clubs across the world.
Based on nearly 150,000 tackles analyzed, the results show a significant reduction in upright high-risk contacts, with percentages ranging between 8% and 10%. Some unions even reported fewer concussions during the season covered by the study. The Executive Council will now evaluate this recommendation, which could become law by 1 July 2026, marking a step aimed at reshaping long-standing habits without losing the essence of the game.
Accumulated evidence: data, behavior and a safer rugby
The trials conducted across eleven unions reflect a clear behavioral shift among community rugby players. The reduction in high contacts — 6% in men’s rugby and 9% in women’s — indicates that a lower tackle height is not only feasible but has a direct impact on reducing risk. Although the process is still subject to independent review, the figures represent thousands of safer actions in matches worldwide, a sign of the magnitude of the potential change.
The analysis also revealed an increase in tackles executed at knee and leg height. While these are less dangerous than situations in which players’ heads enter the same space, they still present a greater risk than tackles targeting the abdomen. Technique adaptation therefore remains a key challenge. Even so, the results align with what has been observed in elite rugby, where technologies such as smart mouthguards, combined with stricter sanctions, have similarly helped reduce the number of high-risk contacts.
International experience and shared leadership
The path toward this recommendation began formally in 2024, when World Rugby launched closed trials alongside federations across various continents. France, a pioneer in adopting a lower tackle height in community rugby, contributed much of the evidence that supported both the initiative and the projection of its effects. This global learning process made it possible to contrast realities, adjust methodologies, and build a proposal backed by evidence and accumulated experience.
Throughout this process, figures like Mark Harrington, World Rugby’s Director of Player Welfare and Rugby Services, highlighted the involvement of unions, clubs, referees, and players, emphasizing that welfare is the foundation of every decision. Harrington particularly valued the convergence of the eleven unions that requested this measure to become law, interpreting it as a sign of collective commitment. For the organization, these results serve as a springboard for continued development of initiatives that strengthen safety in both grassroots and elite rugby.
