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.
Tom
Guest
The sports scientist Ross Tucker wrote about this. His opinion was that it is a bad idea. Essentially, kids under 13 due to their lower size, speed, and strength are less likely to injure one another in contact. All this means is that they won't develop tackling skills as children. When they are actually taught to tackle, they will be big and strong enough to inflict significant injury upon one another, but they won't have the tackling skills developed from when they were younger. This will increase the chance of a more significant injury.
ethan
Guest
I chuckled.
Jacko
Guest
WOW....Cheika is proving to be ahead of his time with his banning the Wallabies from tackling
Hoy
Roar Guru
The fruit of this will be born in 8 years I guess. It's an odd one, because how many injuries do happen at a young age? I do get it that concussion isn't being knocked out... but then is the 5 year gap enough if we are all really worried about concussions? Should we all move to oz-tag style rugby? Grab the ribbons?
Green Lantern
Roar Pro
I don't know, I think it might be a good idea. Some kids, here in South Africa are afraid to test and perform complicated handling moves, afraid of getting hurt in tackles. Some kids focus on the would-be impact of getting tackle, ensuring minimum fun. I believe at that age, kids need to learn a lot of skills, as rugby is a very complicated games. That's where they find comfort and confidence in exacting these skills. If we take some of the small players from the best national side, New Zealand. You'll find amazing talented artists...eg, Damian McKenzie, the Barratt brothers....obviously acquired their skills from a young age. Tag-Rugby or touch-rugby are clearly the institutions. Some US rugby players lack basic skills of rugby, like long passes, weaker arm passes, long accurate punts or having a smart rugby brain, simply because they had no opportunity learning these skills as kids.
Cugel
Roar Rookie
Jeez, I hope the the savants that run the NRL don't get wind of this. Although the Roar league community would be over the moon.
buttery
Roar Rookie
Touch union, why do former players want to ruin the game that gave them fame??????
Matt
Guest
Seems crazy that, after all of the World Rugby commissioned research in head injuries that suggested lowering the tackle height, that the French are going to force kids to tackle upright where head on head injuries are most prevalent and dangerous. To hold an opponent means you still have to stop them. Laporte has just removed a smaller players primary technique for stopping a larger opponent. Merde!
El Presidente
Roar Rookie
Bernard Laporte has some kind of "guru" powers and influence in France and yet he's a buffoon. At the very most they should have trialed this policy in a specific region of France and then discovered after 3-5 years how many more injuries there were in that region from the age of 13, and after 10 years seen how (even more) crap their senior players had become. They already have crazy rules regarding University level rugby and when these folks come to play abroad they have to be taught a whole bunch of basics that hold them back. Incredible.
Charging Rhino
Roar Guru
That's all a bit silly. Over 13 is when boys really start getting big and more powerful, and increases the chance of injury. Under that age there's not too much chance for injury, plus you learn how to tackle well. I was always the smallest kid on the field but had no problems tackling the biggest boy out there even if he was 20- 30kgs heavier and a foot or two taller, and I only weighed 33 kgs. Under 10's & Under 11's were some of my fondest rugby memories. Then we went the year unbeaten in Under 13's
Pilferer
Roar Rookie
With Catalans just winning the challenge cup this law change might see an increase of young kids playing league . This is insane how are smaller kids going to learn technique when the bigger kids are running straight and hard. I watched a under 13 game on Saturday there was easily 35 kg swing in weight .
Smiggle Jiggle
Roar Guru
Well, this is only going to make the French suck even more long term. Why not invest in how to tackle properly. Increase suspensions for dangerous tackles, provide headgear. etc.