A pioneering study emerging from Scotland has illuminated the tangible benefits of lowering the maximum legal tackle height in women’s rugby. This world-first research, conducted collaboratively by the University of Edinburgh, Scottish Rugby, and World Rugby, offers compelling evidence that such a modification can substantially reduce harmful head contacts, which have long been a concern in contact sports. By utilizing advanced video analysis and injury surveillance across two seasons, this investigation marks a critical milestone in the ongoing global effort to enhance player safety within community-level rugby.
The study meticulously compared more than 11,000 tackles recorded during the 2022/23 season, prior to the implementation of the lowered tackle height law, with those from the 2023/24 season when this rule change was trialed. The researchers noted a dramatic behavioral shift among players, particularly the 21% decline in upright tackles—a style traditionally associated with increased risk of high-impact collisions to vulnerable areas such as the head and shoulders. Concurrently, a 34% increase in tacklers initiating contact while bent at the waist was observed, aligning with the biomechanical guidelines suggested to minimize the potential for concussion-inducing impacts.
Utilizing expertise from the Moray House School of Education and Sport, the research team performed detailed frame-by-frame video analyses from 34 women’s community rugby matches spanning premier and regional leagues in Scotland. The methodical approach involved coding critical data points—tackle type, body positioning, and point of contact—based on a protocol developed jointly with World Rugby and the University of Cape Town. This rigor allowed the researchers to quantify how changes in tackle technique correlated with reduced head-to-head, head-to-shoulder, and other high-risk contacts.
The findings are striking. Initial contact by tacklers with the ball carriers’ head and neck decreased by 64%, a significant achievement given that such contacts are primary contributors to sports-related concussions. Moreover, the rate of head-to-head contacts dropped by 17%, while head-to-shoulder contacts diminished by 35%. The researchers further highlighted important reductions in proximity between players’ heads—a critical factor, since close head proximity can precipitate dangerous collisions—even when impact was avoided. Specifically, there was a 29% reduction in head-to-head proximity for the tackler and a 33% reduction for the ball carrier.
Importantly, the study assuages fears that lowering tackle height might inadvertently increase injury risk elsewhere by demonstrating no significant uptick in head-to-knee or head-to-hip contacts. Such contacts have historically been linked to concussive injury, so their absence bodes well for the safety trade-offs involved in this regulatory change. The analysis further confirmed a 19% reduction in contacts above the sternum—termed the “red zone” due to its high risk—between both tackler and ball carrier, signaling a substantive shift away from dangerous high tackles.
While the rate of concussions reported did not significantly change across the study periods, researchers attribute this to relatively low injury numbers and the inherent challenges of injury reporting in community sport settings. Nonetheless, the pronounced behavioral modifications and contact reductions point toward potentially meaningful long-term benefits if such tackle height regulations are sustained. Sanctions related to high tackles, such as penalties and yellow cards, increased notably from three to eight between the seasons, reflecting stricter enforcement and player adaptation to the new rules.
Dr. Hannah Walton, lead author from the University of Edinburgh, emphasized the importance of this novel evidence: “Our findings demonstrate that reducing the maximum legal tackle height in Scottish women’s community rugby has catalyzed positive behavioral changes among players, leading to significant reductions in hazardous head contacts and proximity. This forms an encouraging foundation for broader injury prevention initiatives aimed at safeguarding player welfare.” She also stressed the necessity of ongoing data collection to better understand the long-term impact of these rule changes.
This study is part of a broader international initiative spearheaded by World Rugby, involving 11 countries, including rugby powerhouses such as Australia, England, France, and New Zealand, among others. The objective is to systematically assess how altering tackle height might influence injury profiles across different demographics and competitive levels in rugby union. The Scottish contribution, led by experts from the University of Edinburgh and supplemented by international collaborators from the universities of Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Calgary, and Leeds Beckett, represents a critical piece of this global puzzle.
From a technical standpoint, the lowered tackle height regulation requires players to initiate tackles below the opponent’s sternum, contrasting with the traditional shoulder-height benchmark. This seemingly subtle modification compels tacklers to adjust their body mechanics—primarily by adopting a bent-over posture—to engage safely. Biomechanical studies have indicated that this technique reduces the velocity and force of head contacts, which are the predominant cause of concussions in rugby. Additionally, coaches and referees are tasked with enforcing stricter adherence to these guidelines, as reflected in the increased number of sanctions recorded during the trial season.
Interestingly, the study also explores the relationship between tackle technique and concussion mechanisms, providing valuable insights into how subtle shifts in player positioning can mitigate risk. For instance, by promoting bent-at-the-waist tackling, players reduce the likelihood of collision between heads and maintain better control over tackle dynamics. This has essential implications for coaching practices and the development of training protocols that focus on injury prevention without compromising the integrity and physicality of the sport.
Neil Graham, Head of Regional Pathways and Game Development at Scottish Rugby, expressed optimism about the study’s implications: “Our commitment to evolving rugby, particularly at the community level, centers on player welfare being paramount. This evidence-based approach to lowering tackle height exemplifies how sport can innovate responsibly, embracing changes that make the game safer while preserving its essence.” He also highlighted forthcoming research aiming to evaluate the intervention’s effects in youth rugby, underscoring a comprehensive, lifecycle approach to player safety.
While the present study is a landmark in women’s community rugby, it builds upon prior evaluations conducted in men’s community rugby within Scotland. These parallel investigations underscore the consistent positive effects of reduced tackle height across genders and levels of play. As such, they contribute to a growing consensus within the international rugby community regarding the efficacy and necessity of tackling law reforms, particularly amidst increasing scrutiny regarding concussion in sport.
The broader ramifications of this research extend beyond rugby itself, potentially serving as a catalyst for similar injury prevention strategies across contact sports worldwide. By demonstrating the feasibility and benefits of such regulatory change through robust scientific inquiry, the study sets a precedent for data-driven policymaking aimed at reducing trauma in traditionally high-risk athletic disciplines. As concussion awareness continues to rise globally, these findings may inspire cross-sport dialogue and innovation focused on safer gameplay without diminishing competitive excitement.
Published in BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine, this study exemplifies the intersection of sport science, injury epidemiology, and policy innovation. It illustrates how methodological rigor, interdisciplinary collaboration, and stakeholder engagement can coalesce to enhance athlete health outcomes. As ongoing surveillance and further research unfold, the hope is that lessons learned in Scottish women’s community rugby will inform an international roadmap toward safer play environments and a sustained reduction in concussion incidence.
Subject of Research: People
Article Title: Lowering the maximum legal tackle height in Scottish community women’s rugby: an injury surveillance and video analysis study across two seasons
News Publication Date: 12-May-2025
Web References:
10.1136/bmjsem-2025-002499
Keywords: Sports medicine
Tags: advanced video analysis in sports researchbehavioral changes in rugby tacklingbiomechanics of rugby tacklingcommunity-level rugby dynamicsconcussion prevention in contact sportshead contact reduction strategiesimpact of tackle height on injury ratesplayer safety in rugbyScottish Rugby safety initiativestackling techniques in women’s rugbywomen’s rugby tackle height reductionWorld Rugby rule changes
