‘Laws are laws’: Gold Coast clubs hit back hard at Rugby Australia’s new tackle height laws
A swarm of confusion and concerns have been raised by grassroot Gold Coast union clubs questioning whether Rugby Australia’s ‘lower tackles, lower concussions’ mentality will stay true. See what clubs have to say:
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A swarm of confusion and concerns have been raised by grassroot Gold Coast union clubs questioning whether Rugby Australia’s ‘lower tackles, lower concussions’ mentality will stay true.
Confirmed in November 2023, the new law stipulates an ‘illegal’ tackle to be anything in line or above a player’s sternum.
While many have issued a nod of approval to Rugby Australia for showing initiative, concerns linger as to whether concussion stats will really decline in a sport that is unavoidably physical.
As the 2024 season approaches, four Gold Coast clubs have already had their say about the move.
What does is it mean? How have players coped? And the golden question: Will it make a difference?
Mika Tufuga, Coomera Crushers
“You can tackle someone pretty hard and it be legal and there’s still a chance that they’ll fall back and hit their head on the ground,” Tufuga said.
“It’s about the intensity and teaching our young ones how to fall to avoid concussions.
“I’m hoping it will make a difference to concussions, but I don’t know if it will because there are other ways to get injured.”
A tall line-up coupled with several players boasting decades of rugby playing experience, Coomera’s biggest battle has been adjusting individual techniques to suit the change.
“It has been difficult, and getting the boys to change that dynamic has been a very critical part of our training over the last four or five weeks.
“The whole drop down below the sternum had been tough in the first couple of trainings but we’re quite rigid about, what we say, stripping it back to basics.
“It’s something that’s at the forefront of our trainings every week.”
Te Ari Mahuri, Nerang Bulls
Mahuri takes over the Bulls from previous head coach Yohan Huria and has made quick headway while in charge.
“We’ve been training for six weeks so conditioning is out of the way and we’re starting to get into our contract work.
“The boys were aware of the new rule, so we have been putting a bit of work around that area which has been good,” he said.
“We as a club pride ourselves on our defence … but laws are laws and we’ve got to follow the playbook.”
“I do see where the ARU are coming from.
Although Mahuri admits to seeing Rugby Australia’s viewpoint, he is firm on the mindset that high tackles are just a tiny component contributing to concussions numbers.
“There’s more chance of getting a knee to the head … you can get a concussion from scrums and they’re not going to ban scrums, they’re not going to take out the lift in a lineout where you can get dropped and hit your head.
“I don’t think it will lower concussion rates, if anything, it will increase them.”
Johnny Ngaumo, Surfers Paradise Dolphins
“It’s just another change making players more aware,” Ngaumo said.
“It’ll be a testing time for rugby.”
Similar to his fellow coaches, the 2023 runner-up HC believes a lower legal tackle height will make little impact to the concussion stats littering both junior and senior rugby union.
“All the focus is on the first tackle but there are different variables that lead to an injury.
“If it means more parents will allow their kids to play … that’s the question you’ve got to ask.”
Sean Cole, Griffith Uni Colleges Knights
After leading the Knights to their fourth-straight first grade premiership in 2023, HC Sean Cole has been prompt in implementing adjustments to the law change
While wary of the impact it will have on players, Cole has also considered the implications from an officials standpoint.
“I feel for the referees having to now rule on these very fine margins.
“The difference between how they referee a general play tackle as opposed to a tackle made from a pick and drive is going to be the fine line,” he said.
“Rugby is a high-speed contact sport … but players never go out there to intentionally tackle high to begin with as it’s a detriment to your team in general.
“Accidents happen though which are part of the game that will never change.”
Cole is confident the Knights will pick up on adjustments quickly.
“I don’t think reworking some of the boys’ techniques will be too much of a battle and once we develop good habits it will just become the norm to target lower,” he said.
“I’m interested to see any statistics around concussions in our competition, as a club we have had very few over the last few years which is a great sign for me that our guys know correct technique and also know how to position themselves heading into contact.”
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