Tackle Height (preliminary stuff)

As you have heard, we will be using a new tackle height law in the Fall (eff. 9/1/2024). The Midwest is trialing this for Spring friendlies; USAR will use what they find to shape the interpretation, but it shouldn’t be much different than what Ireland and New Zealand are doing.

The following YouTube video from Jamie McGregor at USAR is around 35 minutes and has a discussion regarding player coaching and referee aspects. Note that this is for open play and not necessarily applicable to things like pick and drives (with the difference being the velocity of players in contact, as they discuss). Also, note the discussion about the “standing tackle” that some players do which is now going to be a problem. [And, of course, this is not a definitive video because the trials are going on, but the general concepts will be similar if not the same. We will get other stuff by August.]

Law Guidance

From World Rugby

World Rugby … has put out a statement for the Reinforcement of Current Law (March 2024). The Referee and Laws Committee Management Working Group wanted to ensure coaches and officials were aware of the below laws that are now in immediate effect:

Law 15.17: Players will be expected to use the ball more quickly when the ball has been secured at a ruck/breakdown. Referees will be asked to call “use it” earlier, which will begin the five second count to play the ball away. This is expected to reduce lengthy “caterpillar rucks”.

Law 19.10: Hookers will be expected to maintain a full brake foot to aid scrum stability and safety during the engagement sequence. Any adjustment must maintain the act of the brake.

Law 6.29: Strict reinforcement of the 2022 law trial relating to water carriers entering the field of play for elite play. Higher level competitions in the USA are encouraged to require all of the Global Law Trials in Law 6 for water carriers to be applied.

From USAR – TACKLE HEIGHT UPDATE

USA Rugby have received queries about implementation of tackle height variations in the USA and is monitoring practices from other nations to ensure the smoothest possible implementation for when the USA chooses to apply these.

No trials of these variations currently exist anywhere in the USA. Details of any upcoming trials will be announced by the USA Rugby Board in due course. Until notified by USA Rugby, the existing Laws apply. All referees are instructed that safety in our game is paramount and all dangerous tackling must be sanctioned.

For any immediate questions, please email laws@usa.rugby