French Rugby have taken the unusual step of banning tackling in all union matches from under 12s down.
While most countries around the world ban tackling in the very early years, France will now ban it until players move past under 12s, which seems mind-boggling.
Instead of a tackle, junior rugby games in France will now use the ‘two-second hold and release’ method, which will require a defender to stop the attacker, but not actually complete a tackle or bring them to ground.
This brings with it problems of its own though, with the development of junior players a crucial cog in the system of keeping national rugby teams strong around the world.
However, French Rugby president Bernard Laporte said it was all about preserving the health of junior players and implementing better training procedures, as well as keeping the game more free-flowing for juniors.
In Australia, only under six and seven competitions are non-tackle, with tag rugby used instead. From under eights, Australian juniors begin tackle rugby, although some slight modifications to the rules are still enforced.
For comparison, junior rugby league allows tackling from the under six level, while even junior AFL allows tackling – albeit with modifications – from under 11s and up.
The main one of those modifications is the banning of ‘squeeze ball.’ Directly quoted from the rules, this is where the ball carrier goes to ground head forward, usually keeping parallel to the touchline, holding and protecting the ball close to the chest and, when on the ground, pushing the ball back between the legs.
While Rugby Australia haven’t said they are looking to follow their French counterparts, World Rugby’s direction has been to reduce the impact of tackling over the last 12 months, with propose laws trialed in under 20s games last year, enforcing tackles to be ‘below the nipple line,’ in an attempt to stop head and neck injuries.
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