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Rugby league to follow union in lowering tackle height

Sam Tomkins of Catalans Dragons is tackled by Bevan French of Wigan Warriors during the Betfred Super League Final match between Wigan Warriors v Catalans Dragons at Old Trafford on October 14, 2023 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

Rugby league is set to follow the lead of rugby union in lowering tackle height from 2024 onwards.

The Rugby Football League (RFL) has announced significant changes to tackle height regulations, following the acceptance of 44 recommendations from the sport’s Brain Health and Clinical Advisory Group Sub-Committees.

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The new adjustments – which echo the changes made confirmed by the RFU earlier this year – will impact the Betfred Super Leagues (Men and Women) as well as community clubs.

Since 2021, the RFL collaborated with Leeds Beckett University on the TaCKLE Project, led by Professor Ben Jones, RFL’s Strategic Lead for Performance and Research. Special mouthguards, implemented since 2021, facilitated studies on head acceleration exposures, leading to research projects and law trials in the 13-man code.

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Major changes include the mandated use of the latest mouthguards in professional rugby league through a partnership with Prevent Biometrics.

There are also off-field changes. There will be a mandated off-season of four weeks, match limits over a 12-month period, and the introduction of independent concussion spotters on a trial basis in 2024.

Community rugby league and age grade rugby league will witness immediate and fundamental changes starting the 2024 season. Notably, the legal limit for contact at these levels will be lowered from shoulder height to armpit height. Contact above the armpit will result in penalties. The rule changes follow successful Laws Trials in the Under-18 Academy competition in the summer of 2023.

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Twelve of the 44 recommendations specifically address various age groups. Touch/tag rugby will replace contact rugby in a phased approach, starting with Under 6s and 7s in 2024. The changes align with the Safe Play Code established in 2019 and will be mandatory for all age groups from 2024.

Additionally, a winter break will be enforced from the third weekend in November until January across community rugby league, except for schools, colleges, and student rugby league offerings.

RFL’s Chief Executive Tony Sutton, who also chairs the Brain Health Sub-Committee, unveiled the recommendations at a media conference on December 7, emphasizing the aim to increase Rugby League’s appeal and accessibility, particularly at junior and community levels.

“In stressing the significance of these recommendations which have now been ratified by the RFL’s independent Board of Directors, we acknowledge the challenges they will pose for those at all levels of the sport,” said Sutton. “We believe they are essential, as Rugby League must respond to developments in medical and scientific knowledge to prioritise the safety of those that play; and also that they offer exciting opportunities to increase the appeal and accessibility of Rugby League, especially at junior and community levels.

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“Rugby League will remain a tough, gladiatorial and character-building team sport. But we believe the mandating of tag/touch at the introductory levels – initially Under-6s rising to Under-8s from 2026 – and the reduction in the legal tackle height at all levels from 2025 will place a new emphasis on skill and attacking play, further increasing the appeal of Rugby League both to parents, and to open-age community players.”

He also asked for the support of the rubgy league community in bringing through the changes. As with rugby union, which is lowering tackle height to below the sternum, there’s been considerable backlash against the move.

“Those discussions and explanations will continue throughout the winter ahead of the start of the 2024 season. My plea to all involved in the sport would be to recognise the fundamental importance of our match officials in introducing these changes. That was reinforced by the challenges faced by the group who were involved in the Academy Laws Trials last summer, to which they responded admirably. Next year more than ever, they will all need and deserve our support.”

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J
JW 2 hours ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Where? I remember saying "unders"? The LNR was formed by the FFR, if I said that in a way that meant the 'pro' side of the game didn't have an equal representation/say as the 'amateur' side (FFR remit) that was not my intent.


But also, as it is the governing body, it also has more responsibility. As long as WR looks at FFR as the running body for rugby in France, that 'power' will remain. If the LNR refuses to govern their clubs use of players to enable a request by FFR (from WR) to ensure it's players are able to compete in International rugby takes place they will simply remove their participation. If the players complain to the France's body, either of their health and safety concerns (through playing too many 'minutes' etc) or that they are not allowed to be part in matches of national interest, my understanding is action can be taken against the LNR like it could be any other body/business. I see where you're coming from now re EPCR and the shake up they gave it, yes, that wasn't meant to be a separate statement to say that FFR can threaten them with EPCR expulsion by itself, simply that it would be a strong repercussion for those teams to be removed (no one would want them after the above).


You keep bringing up these other things I cannot understand why. Again, do you think if the LNR were not acting responsibly they would be able to get away with whatever they want (the attitude of these posters saying "they pay the players")? You may deem what theyre doing currently as being irresponsible but most do not. Countries like New Zealand have not even complained about it because they've never had it different, never got things like windfall TV contracts from France, so they can't complain because theyre not missing out on anything. Sure, if the French kept doing things like withholding million dollar game payments, or causing millions of dollars of devaluation in rights, they these things I'm outlining would be taking place. That's not the case currently however, no one here really cares what the French do. It's upto them to sort themselves out if they're not happy. Now, that said, if they did make it obvious to World Rugby that they were never going to send the French side away (like they possibly did stating their intent to exclude 20 targeted players) in July, well then they would simply be given XV fixtures against tier 2 sides during that window and the FFR would need to do things like the 50/50 revenue split to get big teams visiting in Nov.

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