The Blackout Bulletin

In a move aimed at enhancing player safety, members of the South African Rugby Union have approved key amendments to certain laws, applicable to all school and club rugby matches from the new year.

These changes, the result of seven months of thorough review and analysis, are based on World Rugby concussion data and crucial injury data collected by SA Rugby over 16 years through the BokSmart national rugby safety program.

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SA RUGBY IMPLEMENTS NEW LAWS

The primary alterations to laws governing tackles in open play include a lowering of the maximum legal height for tackles, now mandated to be at the base of the sternum (breastbone) or below.

Double tackles and second tacklers are permitted but must adhere to the new height regulations. Ball carriers, in a forward bent body position, are required to maintain their head and shoulders above the hips, creating a ‘safe zone’ accessible to tacklers between the sternum and mid-thigh.

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Further specifications dictate that ball carriers are prohibited from entering contact with a fully bent and horizontal body, or with the head lower than the hips. The ‘pick-and-drive’ maneuver is allowed in a low body position, minimizing concussion risks.

However, players executing this technique may not use a hand on the ground prior to contact, a practice locally known as the ‘cannon-arm.’ Additionally, players can only bind onto the ball carrier once contact with the defender has been made.

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These changes align with World Rugby’s recommendation for unions to participate in trials aiming to lower the maximum legal tackle height in community rugby. It’s important to note that these law amendments do not apply to professional rugby.

Rian Oberholzer, CEO of SA Rugby, emphasized the positive impact of these changes in lowering the risk of head contact. He stressed the importance of coaches promoting safe and effective tackle and ball carry techniques, foreseeing a systematic reduction in the concussion risk over time.

Unions are granted flexibility to adapt the laws within their respective countries. South Africa’s holistic approach, beyond tackle height, involves examining the role of the ball-carrier in open play and the ‘pick-and-drive’ aspect of the game, addressing various facets to prioritize player safety.

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