Lowering the tackle height in grassroots Scottish rugby has significantly reduced the rate of head collisions among players, a study has found.
After recent changes to the tackle height law for male community rugby players, there was a 45 per cent reduction in head-on-head contact — one of the primary causes of sports-related concussion.
The lowered tackle height law was introduced by Scottish Rugby in the 2023/24 season as part of global World Rugby Law trials, and it was made compulsory across all amateur playing levels in Scotland.
Scottish Rugby recommended lowering the tackle height from the shoulder to below the sternum or breastbone — also known as a belly tackle — throughout the community game.
As a result, players were 22 per cent more likely to tackle bent at the waist, and this behavioural change led to fewer instances of head-to-head and head-to-shoulder contact.
It is the first of three research studies — led by Hamish Gornall of the University of Edinburgh and commissioned by Scottish Rugby — to evaluate the law change, with the impact on the women’s and youth community games also being assessed.
Dr David Pugh, Scottish Rugby’s chief medical officer, said: “At Scottish Rugby we strive to reduce the incidence of concussion in as many ways as we can.
“Hamish’s research clearly demonstrates that player behaviours have changed.”
He added that Scottish Rugby is working with the university on an injury surveillance project to monitor concussion rates.
The research comes after former rugby players launched legal action over brain injuries that they claimed were caused by “neglect on the part of the organisations in their management, operation, scheduling and general provision of rugby as a sport at competitive level”. Those part of the action include Steve Thompson, the England 2003 World Cup-winning forward, and the former Wales back Gavin Henson.
Researchers at the University of Edinburgh used video analysis to examine 18,702 tackles from 60 men’s community matches, comparing data from the pre-trial and trial seasons.
During the trial, head-to-shoulder contacts for both the ball-carrier and the tackler reduced by 29 per cent, while head and upper torso contacts fell by 19 per cent.
Sanctions for high tackles tripled during the 2023/24 season, although there was no significant change in the rate of all other forms of illegal play.
Gav Scott, director of rugby development at Scottish Rugby, said: “Scottish Rugby is continuing to look to evolve the game to increase player welfare while making it a more exciting and inclusive game to play.
“Research with key partners such as the University of Edinburgh helps us identify which initiatives are working and guides our future plans in an evidence-based way.
“We’d also like to thank our rugby community for persevering with this law trial, as the results of this male adult trial are hugely positive. It reflects back on the nature of the clubs, schools and match officials we have, to make this work.”
The study forms part of an international project led by World Rugby to assess the effects of lowering the tackle height in 11 countries, including Australia, England, France, Ireland, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa and Wales.
Mark Harrington, chief player welfare and rugby services officer at World Rugby, said the results were “highly encouraging.”
“It should give everyone confidence that the results in Scotland are in line with the positive outcomes we are seeing in the rest of the world,” he said.
“Player welfare is World Rugby’s No 1 priority and we will never stand still in this area.
“We’ll continue to work with valued partners such as Scottish Rugby to refine community tackle laws, ensuring that rugby is a fun game to play and as safe as it possibly can be.”
The study, published in BMJ Open Sport and Exercise Medicine, was funded by World Rugby and Scottish Rugby which included funding for Gornall’s PhD.
