ADVERTISEMENT
RugbyDump
REGISTER
LOGIN
ADVERTISEMENT
RugbyDump
Friday Jan 20, 2023

Almost 35,000 have now signed petition to reverse new grassroots tackle laws

Yesterday it was announced in shock news that the Rugby Football Union (RFU) had passed a law banning above-waist tackles from the amateur game. Since then, there has been chaos in the rugby community.

ADVERTISEMENT

As soon as the news broke, there was an immediate backlash against this radical new law. Many fans have deemed the move ‘completely disrespectful to the game’ and ‘totally unfeasible’. There is a very real expectation that should the law be carried out, participation levels in the game will drop dramatically. Some experts have estimated that a 50% reduction in players wouldn’t be surprising, with many of whom choosing early retirement.

One fan, House Davidson, summed up the mood of many fans with one simple comment, “The RFU continuing to ruin rugby for the whole world, wonderful”.

There have been shouts of ‘short kings unite’, in jest, as there will be many 6 ft + players wondering how on earth they’re supposed to tackle the legs of those much shorter than them. There’s also the logistical problem of how are players supposed to make a tackle around the legs as they defend a ‘pick and go’ on their own tryline?

Oliver Hoskins was part of a similar trial a few years ago and has pointed out that players suffered “exponentially more concussions because of it”.

ADVERTISEMENT

These thoughts were echoed by Niall Cooper at Melksham Rugby Club, who claimed, “I swear more people get knocked out from getting the head on the wrong side of a chop tackle and receiving a hip to the face”. It’s these players that will be directly affected by the new laws, and as a result, have been caught up in a storm that they never asked for.

The changes have led to many wondering how this law has even been passed. Some have suggested that those at the top have never even taken to the rugby field before, let alone tackled below the waist.

Nick Easter, the former England Number 8, has called for those that have passed the law to be made accountable.

A thought that has no doubt been discussed among many grassroots rugby clubs over the past day is, ‘what if we boycott the new laws?’. If the RFU don’t instigate a U-Turn before the 1st July, there could be a very serious possibility of this happening.

There has since been a petition launched to reverse the laws: Petition · 2023-24 Tackling Height in the Amateur Rugby Union Game · Change.org

The description reads:

“Rugby Union, a game for all shapes and sizes, has never had that phrase more challenged than now. I completely understand the need to make the game safer and where possible eliminate the head on head collisions, but no-one is forcing anyone to play rugby union.

Dropping the tackle height to below the waist will make the game a farcical spectacle to watch. Not allowing players to dip into tackles to bump tackles off is also a crazy decision in a game that is not only about speed, but power too!

What next? Scrums, mauls – where will it stop until the game is killed off?

+ There will be penalties and yellow / red cards being handed out like confetti

+ Players will literally stop playing the game who have been taught to tackle high to stop the offload, now having to retrain old habits

+ More likely to have head on knee contact, could it cause more injury?

+ Community Clubs will struggle to fulfil sides as players give up to play less ‘complicated’ sports

+ Community clubs with big overheads will go to the wall, as they won’t get the footfall through the club to keep the revenue going

+ Kids will be pushed into playing other sports where the values are not what they should be

+ If Community Clubs go to the wall, where will kids go to keep themselves off the streets?

+ Kids of a certain size who are not blessed with express pace and see rugby as their way of playing a sport to a good level will give up. The temptation to play video games will be too easy and obesity levels will increase in those kids as they will be less active!

I could go on…Rugby is the bastion of playing hard, but learning the basic principles of discipline, teamwork and respect. Generations of people growing up will be lost to the game as a result and who will be left to teach the instagram generation of tomorrow how it should be, how to act appropriately amongst adults, learn the art of conversation and networking for the future?

If you agree, let’s get this trending and remind the RFU to STOP ruining our game!”

Comments




Related Articles

  • 61 WEEKS AGO

    Duhan Van Der Merwe humiliated by his brother...

  • 61 WEEKS AGO

    RFU introduce maximum of waist high tackling...

  • 61 WEEKS AGO

    Exeter fly half to depart for France



ADVERTISEMENT

Great Tries

  • 7 WEEKS AGO

    The dummy that sold the whole of Perth - including the cameraman

  • 8 WEEKS AGO

    Bayonne score 'one of the best tries you'll ever see' in latest match against Exeter

  • 8 WEEKS AGO

    Baloucoune shows Andy Farrell what he's missing as the winger tears through Harlequins defence

  • 21 WEEKS AGO

    Seriously impressive Courtney Lawes compilation released after England player calls time on international career

  • 22 WEEKS AGO

    Fiji number eight Viliame 'Bill' Mata scores audacious try

View All

Big Hits & Dirty Play

  • 6 WEEKS AGO

    The sending off that rocked the Six Nations opener

  • 7 WEEKS AGO

    Wrecking ball beats 10 players to score full length of the pitch try

  • 17 WEEKS AGO

    Streaker causes major bust up as he tackles player

  • 17 WEEKS AGO

    Monster hit from Perrin leaves Bristol Bears player stunned

  • 19 WEEKS AGO

    Posolo Tuilagi's massive tackle lights up Top 14

View All

See It To Believe It

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    England player ratings: England wake Twickenham up with huge victory

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    Incredible scenes as Italy shock Scotland in Rome

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    Julian Savea breaks Super Rugby record as he dives over for 61st try

  • 3 WEEKS AGO

    130m 'Try of the Decade' breaks the rugby internet

  • 7 WEEKS AGO

    Wrecking ball beats 10 players to score full length of the pitch try

View All

Funnies

  • 4 WEEKS AGO

    Mike Philips recounts crazy night Shane Williams tried to fight Warren Gatland

  • 8 WEEKS AGO

    Shaun Edwards leaves room silent in new Six Nations documentary with French to English transition

  • 17 WEEKS AGO

    Streaker causes major bust up as he tackles player

  • 21 WEEKS AGO

    Luke Cowan-Dickie left red faced after losing very costly bet

  • 21 WEEKS AGO

    Mack Hansen proves once again that he is a hero in Ireland

View All

Amateur

  • 62 WEEKS AGO

    You Won’t See Many Better Than This Silky-Smooth Try From Llandovery RFC

  • 62 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible Scenes As Caldy RFC Hand Ealing First Championship Defeat Of The Season

  • 85 WEEKS AGO

    Dubious Score Decides Result Of Rugby's Biggest Schools Fixture

  • 85 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible Scenes At School Boys Rugby Match

  • 86 WEEKS AGO

    The Next Dominant Backrow?

View All

Player Features

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    Louis Lynagh straight into international rugby

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    Young star set to make first test start for England

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    Jamie Heaslip Exclusive: Respectfully...Ireland fear no one

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    Opinion: The England fly half debate

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    RugbyDump's Dream Six Nations Sevens Team

View All