Referees told to have zero tolerance in fresh crackdown on high tackles

REFEREES have been instructed to adopt a zero-tolerance approach to high tackles in the Heineken Champions Cup this season and to issue red cards to offenders in an attempt to improve player safety.

Joel Jutge, the referee manager for European Professional Club Rugby, the tournament organisers, held a meeting with the leading officials in Marcoussis near Paris last week to co-ordinate the crackdown, while broadcasters BT Sport have also been informed of what will not be tolerated.

EPCR chairman Simon Halliday said the directive was necessary given the potential for differing interpretations of the law across the various domestic leagues.

“If you go in high, you risk a red card. Simple as that,” warned Halliday.

“When I talk to players, I get a very different take to all that talk about ‘the game’s gone soft’. They are really worried.”

The legal precedents in the United States surrounding lawsuits filed against the NFL over concussion injuries in American football have added to the need to adopt this approach.

“We can’t afford to take it lightly, because the legal world is coming,” Halliday added. “Whether you like it or not, it is coming.

“It’s happened in the US. There are certain things people are telling me are no longer allowed in NFL which we do over here.” (© Daily Telegraph, London)