World Rugby has announced two new tackle laws that will be trialed this year in a bid to reduce head injuries.
The laws, which are set to be trialed at the Under-20 Championship in France and the Under-20 Trophy lower the acceptable height of a tackle and additional punishments will be implemented.
The acceptable height of the tackle will be lowered through revised on-field and off-field sanctions, encouraging players to bend at the waist when attempting a tackle.
Law 9.3 The acceptable height of the tackle is reduced from the line of the shoulders to below the nipple line. The law will now read: A player must not tackle an opponent early, late or dangerously. Dangerous tackling includes, but it not limited to, tackling or attempting to tackle an opponent above the nipple line even if the tackle starts below the nipple line.
If a player does not bend at the waist, they will be issued with a 'High Tackle Warning' by the referee. Ireland are in Pool C of the Championships and begin their campaign against hosts France at the Aime-Giral, Perpignan, next Wednesday.
