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Editorial
Getting tough on concussion: how welfare-driven law change may improve player safety—a Rugby Union experience
  1. Martin Raftery1,
  2. Ross Tucker1,
  3. Éanna Cian Falvey1,2
  1. 1 Medical, World Rugby, 8-10 Pembroke Street Lower Dublin 2, Ireland
  2. 2 Department of Medicine, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
  1. Correspondence to Dr Éanna Cian Falvey, Medical, World Rugby, 8-10 Pembroke Street Lower Dublin 2, Ireland; Eanna.Falvey{at}worldrugby.org

https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2019-101885

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    In 2016, World Rugby completed a large-scale study determining the risk factors for head injury in elite rugby.1–3 The findings (figure 1) presented a challenge to the game as the traditional safety measures targeted protection of the ball carrier, but this research identified that the tackler was at greater risk of head injury.

    Figure 1

    Upright, high-risk tackle position (blue player), head injury risk profile, schematic representation of sanction implementation for high tackles and schematic of global concussion rates. BC, ball carrier.

    Research-driven rule change

    World Rugby presented these novel data to game experts (players, coaches and administrators) in late 2016 and asked them how the sport might reduce game head impact. When presented with the data, the expert group recommended lowering the tackle height to protect both tacklers and ball carriers. The experts identified three methods for lowering tackle height: an increased sanction focus, improving tackle technique through coach intervention and law change to lower tackle height.

    The unanimous recommendation from this group was a more stringent sanctioning of illegal high-contact tackles.

    In January 2017, World Rugby did not change the legal definition of a high tackle but increased sanctions for head contact observed by match officials. These sanctions included on-field penalties for any accidental and reckless head contact during tackles, plus more severe sanctions, yellow card (10 min temporary removal) and red card (permanent removal). These directives …

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