England cricket captain Ben Stokes slams RFU after law change

The tackle height will be lowered to the waist from next season for all levels apart from the Premiership and Championship. 

The RFU says "detailed guidelines" will be sent out to players, coaches and referees. 

"We understand this is a significant change," said a union spokesperson.

However, numerous clubs, players, coaches, and officials have expressed their concerns to the BBC, branding the law change unworkable, lamenting a lack of consultation, and fearing a mass player departure from the sport. 

Stokes wrote on Twitter: "Let’s lower the tackle height but bring in a higher chance of the attackers knees hitting defenders in the head. And also let’s take out any consideration for instinctive athleticism in the heat of sport."

A petition to revoke the newly introduced RFU tackling height laws, has surpassed over 40,000 signatures. The changed laws were introduced yesterday, banning a tackle above waist height at the community game. This includes National One and below for men’s rugby, and the Championship and below for the women’s game.

The petition was started by Ed Bartlett, a Sale Sharks fan who wrote on Change.org:

“Dropping the tackle height to below the waist will make the game a farcical spectacle to watch. Not allowing players to dip into tackles to bump tackles off is also a crazy decision, in a game that is not only about speed, but power too!”

“There will be yellow and red cards handed out like confetti.” “More likely to have head on knee contact, could it cause more injury?”

The petition is growing every minute, as frustrated fans and players respond to the RFU law change. High profile names in the professional game have also spoken out on the change. England Internationals Joe Marler and Jack Nowell criticised the change.

Referees are expected to take action against negative player actions such as trapping players in the ruck, and players not attempting to play the ball in jackall situations.

A statement says: "Players are reminded about their responsibilities not to hold the ball or walk off with the ball at penalties – this reduces attacking options by the non-offending team and slows the game down unnecessarily and will be sanctioned."

World Rugby encourages all levels of the sport to adopt guidelines aimed at speeding up the game. Elite competitions are encouraged to use a shot clock, similar to the one trialled in the LNR/FFR competitions, when feasible. A clock for kicks at goal is already being used in France's Top 14.

World Rugby director of rugby Phil Davies said: “World Rugby, member unions and competitions will work with broadcasters and match hosts to implement on-screen (stadia and broadcast) shot clocks for penalties and conversions to ensure referees, players and fans can view the countdown, mirroring what happens in the LNR and Sevens."

Conversion. [The kicker] takes the kick within 90 seconds (playing time) from the time the try was awarded, even if the ball rolls over and has to be placed again. Sanction: Kick is disallowed.

Penalty Kick: The kick must be taken within 60 seconds (playing time) from the time the team indicated their intention to do so, even if the ball rolls over and has to be placed again. Sanction: Kick is disallowed and a scrum is awarded.

A player must not waste time. Sanction Free Kick

Lineout: Teams form the lineout without delay. Sanction: Free-kick.

Scrum: Teams must be ready to form the scrum within 30 seconds of the mark being made. Sanction: Free-kick.

Officials are being reminded that the TMO protocol is meant to quickly identify and address clear and obvious infractions on the field, and that extended reviews suggest an infraction may not be clear.

Davies added: “There was excellent debate at the Shape of the Game conference on this topic, including leading match officials, coaches and player representatives.

"It was agreed that reviews can often take too long, suggesting the offence being reviewed is not clear and obvious.

"While we can always enhance the technology interaction to speed up the process, the match official teams – led by the referee - should attempt to make speedier decisions and limit replays where not necessary.”

Water will be able to be taken onto the field when a try is scored.

While the global law trial on limiting the number of water carriers to two, and reducing the times they enter the field, has reduced unnecessary stoppages, World Rugby say creating set windows for water breaks has created the impression of disrupting the game, even if that water was taken during a natural stoppage (try/injury/TMO review).

Davies added: “Following discussions with stakeholders, an amendment to the current global law trial covering water carriers will allow water onto the field when a try is scored. Participating competitions and unions are reminded of the 60/90 second limits on kick times. Only in a game with no tries, should a natural stoppage be used."