The upcoming Rugby World Cup is on the verge of witnessing its eighth red card of the tournament, equating to the existing record for the highest number of red cards in any single edition, established four years ago. This trend highlights a noticeable and growing pattern, and as the Premiership’s new season prepares to kick off this weekend, there is a sense that it may continue.
Lee Radford, the current defense coach for the Northampton Saints, recognizes the reality of the situation. He comments, “Pre-season has been highly productive, but I have enough experience to know that once the first round commences, a particular rule tends to become prominent.”
It is widely expected that the rule governing tackle height will receive significant attention from referees, particularly due to the concerns sparked by Tom Curry’s red card during a match against Argentina. Virtually every coach involved in discussions on the topic tends to refer to Curry’s incident within the initial minutes. Radford emphasizes the necessity for some level of flexibility, stating, “He had an incredibly brief 0.1-second window to adjust his body height in that tackle. It’s an exceedingly challenging task. He did not intend to make head contact; in fact, he slightly lowered himself. Yet, the player was sidelined for three games during the World Cup. This raises questions of common sense.”
In grassroots rugby, there is an ongoing trial that mandates tacklers to aim “below the base of the sternum” and requires ball carriers not to significantly lower their height before making contact. While this trial has not yet been introduced to the professional game, it presents its own set of challenges. For instance, during the final pre-season game, Sam Graham, a back-rower for the Saints, unintentionally injured two tacklers with his hips, highlighting that concussion can occur just as easily in collisions involving hips or knees. Radford asserts, “And when there is a smaller target area to aim for, there is less space for head contact, which increases the risk of head collisions.”
Unsurprisingly, there is concern that the initial weeks of the season may be marked by a surge in red cards. Radford, in fact, appears resigned to this possibility, stating, “Teams are actively preparing to play with 13 or 14 players on the field because, given the current officiating approach, this is something we need to acknowledge.” This sentiment is shared privately by several other coaches across different clubs.
Radford, similar to many other top defense coaches, comes from a background in league sports, having previously played for Hull FC, Bradford Bulls, and the England team before transitioning to coaching roles at Hull and Castleford. This is not his first experience with tightening rules concerning head contact. He recollects how the Rugby Football League (RFL) took a stringent stance on head contact approximately a year ago, imposing ten-minute sin bin penalties for even the slightest contact with the head. Eventually, a more balanced approach emerged, recognizing that inadvertent head contact can occur without malicious intent.
Radford underscores the importance of finding a middle ground and ensuring that common sense prevails in the process. Many others are also drawing lessons from rugby league, and there is a prevailing skepticism regarding the 2023-24 season, with growing frustration about the constant re-examination of every incident.
Amid these concerns, there are some optimists, such as Paul Gustard, a former defense coach for England, and Saracens, who is currently with Stade Francais. He believes in the potential for evolution and change within the sport of rugby union. Although some challenges may be expected, there is hope on the horizon. Gustard affirms, “If you look back ten years in rugby league, you will observe a different sport compared to today. Going back twenty years, it is an entirely different game. They have evolved.”
Gustard acknowledges that every sport undergoes changes and improvements to ensure player safety and the future of the sport. While certain aspects of the tackle height rule may pose difficulties due to their novelty, Gustard believes it is essential for top-level coaches and players to establish the standards for these changes.
In the world of rugby, there is a shared understanding of the seriousness of head contact, and the ultimate aim is to reduce the discussions surrounding yellow and red cards for high tackles. In Radford’s concise words, “The less we talk about these penalties, the better it is for the sport.”
Not all opinions are as measured, with Rob Baxter, the head coach of Exeter Chiefs, expressing concerns that the process of dealing with head contact is negatively impacting the game. He also suggests that players should have more influence on how the game is refereed, and it appears that this might be on the horizon, as almost 300 former players are currently involved in legal action against those responsible for the sport for failing to prevent concussions.
In conclusion, the ongoing discussion about head contact in rugby reflects the sport’s evolving nature and the commitment to ensuring player safety while encouraging new generations to participate in the game. The collective responsibility of coaches, lawmakers, and players extends beyond the present, with an eye on safeguarding the future of rugby.
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