The Rugby Football League is considering a delay to the contentious changes regarding tackle height in the professional game that were slated for 2025. The planned alterations, which would lower the legal tackle height to below the armpit, may be postponed after recent data indicated a significant 75% reduction in head contact incidents within the Super League this season.
Changes have already been implemented at the amateur and academy levels, with the goal of applying similar regulations to the professional tier next year, following advice from the sport’s brain health committee, aimed at mitigating concussion rates among players. However, sources have indicated that this proposed adjustment might now be reconsidered.
During a recent meeting, clubs were shown statistics revealing a 75% decrease in head contact incidents in Super League games this year compared to historic data from the RFL. The league introduced stricter penalties for head contact at the beginning of this year, resulting in a series of suspensions and controversial red cards.
The governing body asserts that these measures have encouraged a change in player conduct, leading to a potential halt in the plan to lower tackle height. Should the current injury rates remain stable for the remainder of the season, the RFL intends to advise the brain health committee in September to maintain existing regulations, keeping the legal tackle height below the neck.
“Our data shows a 75% reduction compared to historical records, which is very promising, but we shouldn’t be complacent,” stated Robert Hicks from the RFL in an interview with the Guardian. He emphasized the importance of using instrumented mouthguards to monitor players’ concussion risks effectively. The data indicates that the safest area for tackles lies between the armpit and waist.
“We have a chance to favor coach-led initiatives instead of legal changes. The upcoming months will be critical in determining whether we can achieve this. We aim to put a hold on the proposed changes to the tackle height rule in the professional game while we evaluate the data from academy matches regarding the impact on concussive occurrences.”
Nevertheless, Hicks reassured that the sport remains committed to its long-term strategy for player safety. “The brain health committee’s goal is to reduce concussion incidents by 25% over five years. They will evaluate our progress against these targets and hopefully confirm that we are making a positive impact.”
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If the committee agrees with this course of action, a formal announcement regarding the suspension of the change is likely to be made during the upcoming RFL board meeting in October.
