Lowered tackle height law variation in Scottish men’s community rugby: a video analysis evaluation of 18 702 tackles across two seasons
Lowering the maximum legal height of the tackle in men's community rugby led to increased rates of bent at waist tackling, resulting in more tackles making initial contact with the ball carrier's lower torso and legs. This change in behaviour likely reduced the rate of contact between tackler and ball carrier heads.
Authors
- Ross Tucker (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4294-4822)
- Lara Paul (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8836-6936)
- Isla Shill (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0175-2354)
- Sharief Hendricks (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3416-6266)
- Neil M.H. Graham (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1236-2311)
- Debbie Palmer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4676-217X)
- Hamish Gornall (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-9409-4426)
- Hannah Walton (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-5569-9370)
Institutions
- English Institute of Sport (GB)
- University of Cape Town (ZA)
- World Rugby (IE)
- Leeds Beckett University (GB)
Publication Details
- Journal
- BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine
- Published
- 2025-04-01
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjsem-2025-002492
- Citations
- 2
- Primary Topic
- Sports injuries and prevention
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 3.44