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Is it time to lower the dangerous tackle line from below the shoulders to below the chest?
Tackles to the chest area are increasingly dangerous in professional rugby – not just because they have a high chance of moving to the player’s head, or causing a head clash, but because chest-high tackles are dangerous in themselves.
The number of players who have been injured by legal chest-high tackles is growing, and the number of head injuries caused by tacklers aiming too high is a contributing factor in the growing spate of concussions.
The traditional rugby tackle is taught to younger players to be aimed between the knees and chest.
Ball-and-all tackles from the front may need to be changed in technique so tacklers are less upright. Wrap around, choke-hold tackles are one of the contributors to head clashes and head injuries, as tacklers attack at chest height and any error moves them towards the head.
The Guardian made a positive argument that such a law change would cause attacking players to have their passing arms free more often, causing more passes and likely more tries. Hardly a bad result?
Secondly, there are increasing calls for the reserves bench after this World Cup to be reduced from seven players to five, the aim being to have players staying out longer and getting more fatigued.
The NRL is conducting a comprehensive review of interchange rules in a move aimed at making the game safer and more exciting, including reducing the number of substitutions on the four-man bench from the current ten to either eight, seven or six.
Reducing the reserves bench in rugby union would inevitably mean a three-two backs-forwards split, with the players being more utility than the specialists they currently are.
This may in turn make it less likely for coaches to put them on early and lead to more fatigue for the starting XV.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.