FORGET HIGH TACKLES:World Rugby Union gives rules to reduce injury risks

Richard de Carpentier (C) of England is tackled by three players from Kenya during their rugby match of the Dubai leg of IRB's Sevens World Series on December 4, 2015. AFP PHOTO /

If you are a rugby player, then you need to know that tough, but rather safer times lie ahead.

World Rugby has redefined illegal (high) tackle categories and increased sanctions to deter high tackles through a law application guideline.

Players, who have made a name on the pitch as the most feared and revered opponents, your days are numbered; making contact with an opponent's head in "reckless tackles", will earn you a yellow card beginning January 3, 2017.

By introducing minimum on-field sanctions for reckless and accidental contact with the head, World Rugby has effectively lowered the acceptable height of the tackle in their new global education programme.

While calling upon players, coaches and match officials to be proactive in changing culture of contact with the head area, an official communication from the World Rugby Chairman Bill Beaumont said the new rules are aimed at aligning with the latest evidence-based recommendations. This is to ensure that players and coaches at all levels of the game, are appropriately educated, managed and protected when it comes to head impacts and injury within the environment of a contact sport.

The communication read in part; "We believe that we are playing a leading role in terms of the development and implementation of best-practice interventions and this important study further reflects our commitment to an evidence-based approach to player welfare.

"We believe the invaluable data from this study will inform the law review process and lead to changes in playing or training practices."

Whereas the new rules come in place after extensive expert, independent and union evaluation by the World Rugby Council, the news will come as a sign of relief to many parents of young rugby players, who could have found themselves between a rock and a hard place in Kenya.

Last week, two rugby players collapsed on the pitch during two separate Kenya Cup matches, forcing Kenya Rugby Union to suspend all matches until January, pending investigations into the players' deaths.

John Kilonzo KRU Director in charge of By Laws and Discipline described the new rules as an effort towards making the game safer.

"Rugby is a real contact sport and any rule to make the game safer is always welcomed by KRU," he said.