Following an RFU Council decision in January to lower the tackle height in community rugby to improve player safety by reducing the risk of head-on-head contact and concussion, the RFU has undertaken extensive consultation to listen to feedback on how to best define and implement the law variations.

The consultation heard a wide range of views and gathered thoughts and ideas from 8,500 people through an online open survey, the RFU also met with over 1000 people during 25 in-person and virtual forums across 13 locations and met 270 coaches, players, match officials, disciplinary officers, Club chairs and CBs, parents and teachers through 22 focus groups and online panels.

The open survey was independently analysed by the research company YouGov and this feedback was presented to the RFU Council who today (21 April) voted to adopt the law changes with the new tackle height level from 1 July being defined as below the base of the sternum: The area of the tummy or belly and below.

Having listened to feedback, the RFU council has also approved a Regulation amendment to allow a framework for age grade rugby activity over the summer, enabling appropriate contact activity to take place, this builds on the summer framework as used in the last few years and replaces the previous age grade out of season regulations.

Full details are available here - https://www.englandrugby.com/news/article/law-variations-approved-to-lower-tackle-height-in-community-rugby-union?fbclid=IwAR3OMkPK48jkDiXR5zi3ulGi0CC0YyOdOGsNj9BViSDDXXfa-xI6si6kgTU