In its 101st year, the Shute Shield starts this weekend using a trial law to lower the legal tackling height to the sternum. The eyes of the world will be on the results.
In mid-February, after they had each played half a trial against the Waratahs, Manly and Warringah were engaged in a third “half” when reserve Manly forward Brad Leuila hammered Rats No.13 Guy Rees with a tackle around the chest.
Similar trials have been running throughout the world for six years, with the goal of getting tacklers to aim for the belly, thus taking the head away from the danger of the ball carrier’s head or shoulder. World Rugby claims the risk of concussion is 4.2 times higher when the tackler’s head is above the sternum.
But in heartening news for World Rugby , Shute Shield mentors are not only supportive of the tackle-height change, they are also encouraged by the improvements to the game they’ve seen in trial matches.“You don’t see a huge amount of change in terms of the contest. We were all scared it would change the game completely, but it definitely hasn’t. It’s made the footy faster and more fun and more exciting.
There have been teething problems in the pre-season, with “friendly fire” concussions already the result of two players tackling at belly height. “Deal with it, keep dealing with it until teams adjust, and I think rightly so. Let’s reduce the head injuries in this game. Let’s get more kids playing this game and more mothers allowing their kids to play this game.”“Absolutely,” Barakat said. “You will give teams easy access out of their own half by being overly aggressive and silly in your accuracy. Teams will definitely benefit and win games from penalties from high tackles and for a period of time until everybody reacts and responds.
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