Dragons head coach Bernard Jackman has backed proposals to lower the tackle height in rugby ahead of trials in the upcoming U20 Championships in France.
World Rugby will test the changes as a means of reducing the risk of head injury with concussions in particular focus.
Johnny Sexton was on the receiving end of a high tackle by Scott Williams during Leinster’s win over Scarlets in the Pro14 final yesterday, which had initially been missed by officials.
And Jackman, speaking on the Sunday Paper Review, believes coaches should be trusted with teaching their players the safest way of tackling.
“I felt there were four or five instances yesterday which were penalties in the current law – they were very soft in terms of enforcing those rules,” Jackman said.
“Generally, 80 per cent of these trials become law and if you look at how important player welfare is; concussion – I think it’s going to come in.
“Even the [Johnny] Sexton penalty that he got for Scott Williams’ high-shot, it led to a turnover, it was a big moment in the game and Scarlets nearly scored off it.
“The linesman and the referee were oblivious to it and I actually thought it could have been a yellow – it wasn’t. I think we’ll adapt as coaches quickly.
“Tacklers will have to generate a lot more power through that low tackle. There are some very good chop tacklers. But the big thing for a coach is knowing anything above the nipple will be a penalty.
“Defensive coaches will focus on the chop tackle that will take the leg and generate as much power as possible. Most players offload going forward when they’ve dominated the collisions.
“It’s up to us as coaches to drill good technique. The trend in the game is modified contact in training and very short bursts of full on. But I don’t think you have to do full on contact to improve the skill. I think you need to build in contact to your prehab and rehab at certain parts of the season.”
Written by James Hopper
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