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World Rugby has continued its push to make the game safer, announcing a high-tackle law trial for next month's Junior World Championship in France. Citing data that says 76 percent of head injuries happen in the tackle and 72 percent of those occur to the tackler, players at the tournament will now adhere to a "below-the-nipple-line" target zone as opposed to the previous below the shoulder. The law trials have been brought in to encourage players to bend at the waist and aim for a lower hit zone, with World Rugby citing evidence a player is 4.3 times more likely to suffer an injury when attempting a tackle in an upright position. Law 9.13 reads as follows for the trial: "A player must not tackle an opponent early, late or dangerously. Dangerous tackling includes, but is not limited to, tackling or attempting to tackle an opponent above the nipple line even if the tackle starts below the nipple line." World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont described the trial as proof of rugby's commitment to reducing its injury toll, with a specific focus on reducing the risk of concussion. "As a rugby father with sons playing at the elite and community level, I am committed to ensuring that rugby remains at the forefront of injury-prevention, specifically in the priority area of concussion," Beaumont said. "As a sport we have collectively made excellent progress in the programmes and initiatives that have been implemented and they are benefiting players at all levels. This trial builds on the success of lowering of the acceptable tackle height and furthers rugby's commitment to ensure that high-risk tackles, identified through unprecedented research, are eradicated from the game, by removing contact between the tackler's head and the head of their opponent." Under the trial, citing commissioners will issue "high-tackle warnings" with each warning carrying "one strike". When a player has two strikes they will automatically receive a one-match suspension. The warning will however only be issued when the tackler is deemed to be in an upright position - either through an approximate standing position, no clear attempt to lower body position or there is no knee flexion and minimal bending of the waist - and will be issued for four types of incidents. A player will receive a warning for any high-contact penalty, a tackle that results in an HIA, high tackles that are missed during the match and accidental head-on-head or head-on-shoulder contact. On-field sanctions - yellow and red cards - for high tackles remain in place with the high-tackle warning system specifically to do with post-matching sanctioning via the citing process. The trial will continue for the secondary Junior World Trophy tournament.
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