Lower tackle height trial to expand to U20 Championship

World Rugby has confirmed that a lower legal tackle height at the sternum will be introduced at elite level for the first time at the 2026 World Rugby Under-20 Men’s Championship in Georgia.

The move follows two seasons of trials in community rugby and is intended to further improve player safety while testing how the change works in a high-performance environment.

World Rugby said trials across 11 unions showed a clear shift in player behaviour, with upright tackles falling by roughly 8 to 10 percent after the sternum tackle-height limit was introduced.

Some unions, including Ireland, also reported a reduction in concussion rates, although World Rugby noted the concussion data is still limited and needs more evidence over time.

Community law change proposed from July 2026

Based on the findings, the World Rugby Executive Board has recommended that the opt-in community trial becomes a full law at community level from July 2026, subject to approval by the World Rugby Council.

Extra measures included in the U20 elite trial

World Rugby said the U20 Championship trial will include supporting measures designed to protect the flow and character of the sport.

These include allowing pick-and-go actions close to rucks and near the try line where tackling below the sternum is difficult, sanctioning ball carriers who lead dangerously with their head into contact, and permitting double tackles as long as the first tackler makes contact below the sternum.

The trial will run within a single competition to help teams and referees operate under one consistent law environment.

How World Rugby will judge the trial

World Rugby said the outcomes will be assessed against both safety and spectacle metrics before any further elite trials are considered.

Chairman Dr Brett Robinson said player welfare remains central, while stressing the need to preserve what makes rugby distinctive for players and fans.

“Player welfare is at the heart of everything World Rugby does. We’ll leave no stone left unturned in our efforts to make the game as safe as it can be.

“Having said that, protecting what makes rugby ‘rugby’ is a vital part of my role. We’ll undertake this trial, study it closely to ensure we have a game and an Under-20 Championship that excites players and fans alike.”