AMATEUR RUGBY CLUBS in France will trial law changes which include lowering the height of a tackle and banning tackles by two players next season, the French Rugby Federation’s (FFR) technical director Didier Retiere said on Tuesday.
“We’re going to work on lowering the height of the tackle down to the waist and we are aiming to prohibit two-man tackles,” Retiere said at a Player Welfare and Law Symposium organised by the FFR and World Rugby in Paris.
“We have been given the green light for amateur competitions with youngsters and adults and we’re waiting for the green light to eventually bring the changes into the academy competitions,” he added.
Four young rugby players have died since last May in France including Stade Francais teenager Nicolas Chauvin after breaking his neck and Aurillac’s 21-year-old Louis Fajrowski following a heavy tackle.
In December last year the FFR offered to trial the idea in their amateur competitions.
Retiere, who was an assistant coach with France between 2007-2011, explained the development was with a view to improving the quality of play.
“Tackling around the shorts allows the ball carrier to off-load and allows them to break the line,” Retiere said
“Defensive lines will have to put two or three players in the back-field so we could have less players in front line of defence.”