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RFU tackle laws discussed in House of Commons

By PA
(Photo by Ryan Hiscott/The RFU Collection via Getty Images)

The Rugby Football Union should rethink radical new tackle laws to avoid a player exodus, a Conservative former minister has urged.

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Stephen Crabb, MP for Preseli Pembrokeshire in Wales, said rugby league could benefit from an influx of players if the RFU pushes ahead with changes to lower the tackle height to waist level from next season.

The bid to improve player safety will apply to all levels of English rugby union outside the Gallagher Premiership and Championship, although it has led to fears of a mass exodus from the sport – particularly among taller players.

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Sports minister Stuart Andrew said he will raise concerns highlighted by MPs when he next meets the RFU.

Speaking in the Commons, Mr Crabb congratulated Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle on becoming the new president of the Rugby Football League, before adding: “I suspect your form of the game, Mr Speaker, 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 if he agrees with me 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?”

Mr Andrew replied: “(Mr Crabb) raises a very important point and a number of colleagues have already raised this with me.

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“As he’ll be aware, of course, national governing bodies such as the RFU are responsible for the regulation of their sports and ensuring that appropriate measures are in place to protect participants from harm and serious injuries.

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“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, 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.

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“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 replied: “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.”

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B
BeamMeUp 2 hours ago
The Springboks have something you don't have

A few comments. Firstly, I am a Bok fan and it's been a golden period for us. I hope my fellow Bok fans appreciate this time and know that it cannot last forever, so soak it all in!


The other thing to mention (and this is targeted at Welsh, English and even Aussie supporters who might be feeling somewhat dejected) is that it's easy to forget that just before Rassie Erasmus took over in 2018, the Boks were ranked 7th in the world and I had given up hope we'd ever be world beaters again.


Sport is a fickle thing and Rassie and his team have managed to get right whatever little things it takes to make a mediocre team great. I initially worried his methods might be short-lived (how many times can you raise a person's commitment by talking about his family and his love of his country as a motivator), but he seems to have found a way. After winning in 2019 on what was a very simple game plan, he has taken things up ever year - amazing work which has to be applauded! (Dankie Rassie! Ons wardeer wat jy vir die ondersteuners en die land doen!) (Google translate if you don't understand Afrikaans! 😁)


I don't think people outside South Africa fully comprehend the enormity of the impact seeing black and white, English, Afrikaans and Xhosa and all the other hues playing together does for the country's sense of unity. It's pure joy and happiness.


This autumn tour has been a bit frustrating in that the Boks have won, but never all that convincingly. On the one hand, I'd like to have seen more decisive victories, BUT what Rassie has done is expose a huge number of players to test rugby, whilst also diversifying the way the Boks play (Tony Brown's influence).


This change of both style and personnel has resulted in a lack of cohesion at times and we've lost some of the control, whereas had we been playing our more traditional style, that wouldn't happen. This is partially attributable to the fact that you cannot play Tony Brown's expansive game whilst also having 3 players available at every contact point to clear the defence off the ball. I have enjoyed seeing the Boks play a more exciting, less attritional game, which is a boring, albeit effective spectacle. So, I am happy to be patient, because the end justifies the means (and I trust Rassie!). Hopefully all these players we are blooding will give us incredible options for substitutions come next year's Rugby Championship and of course, the big prize in 2027.


Last point! The game of rugby has never been as exciting as it is now. Any of Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, France, Argentina, Scotland, England & Australia can beat one another. South Africa may be ranked #1, but I wouldn't bet my house in them beating France or New Zealand, and we saw Argentina beating both South Africa and New Zealand this year! That's wonderful for the game and makes the victories we do get all the sweeter. Each win is 100% earned. Long may it last!


Sorry for the long post! 🏉🌍

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