Aiming to reduce injury risk, the 2026 World Under-20 Championship in Georgia will ban tackles aimed at the area above the sternum. This marks another step toward potentially lowering the maximum tackle height across top-tier rugby.
Over the last two seasons, the legal-tackle height has already been lowered from the shoulder to the sternum in community rugby across 11 nations. Analyses of roughly 150,000 tackles since the rule change show a range of results, including decreases in concussion rates and a trend of tacklers lowering their bodies in response to the new rule.
World Rugby chair Brett Robinson emphasized that player welfare sits at the core of the organization’s work. He stressed a commitment to safety while preserving what makes rugby distinctive. He also noted that the trial at the Under-20 Championship will be closely monitored to ensure the sport remains exciting for players and fans alike.
The revised lower tackle height will not apply in certain situations: when an attacking player picks and goes around a breakdown or at the base of a scrum, or when attempting to score a try.
In other areas of play, ball carriers who lead with their head will be penalized, making a clean, legal tackle more challenging to execute.
If a tackler contacts above the sternum but below the head, play will continue with the attacking team gaining the advantage.
The rule change will also be implemented in community rugby globally on 1 July.
Early feedback from England and France suggested the changes could open up the game, but World Rugby’s broader analysis across 11 unions found only minor shifts in offloads, kicking patterns, and overall game flow.
Jonathan Webb, World Rugby vice-chair and former England full-back, argued that a full rollout should be considered if the Under-20 Championship metrics are favorable. He acknowledged it could be a pivotal, complex decision given the speed of elite play and the significant pressure on players and referees. He suggested the choice would likely be binary: proceed widely or revert to the status quo.
