High-tackle hit list for referees

World Rugby has published stepby-step guidelines that referees will use when determining sanctions for high and dangerous tackles at the World Cup.

Including input from players, coaches, officials and medical experts, the “decision-making framework” was developed at last month’s player welfare symposium in France and continues a drive to reduce concussive incidents.

The global governing body said in a statement yesterday that the aim is to improve consistency in the application of sanctions “by distinguishing tackles that warrant a penalty, yellow card or red card”.

Crucially, this is not a change in the laws, but rather a clarification of how high tackles should be punished. This has been an area of controversy during the past season. Indeed, a video tutorial accompanying World Rugby’s guidelines featured the example of Owen Farrell’s tackle on South Africa centre Andre Esterhuizen last November.

The guidelines outlined scenarios where mitigation might be considered by referees, for instance if a ball-carrier suddenly drops in height or if a tackler becomes unsighted before a collision.

These factors must be “clear and obvious” and can only reduce a sanction by one level – from a red card to a yellow card, for example.

There were also indicators of a higher degree of danger, such as a tackler accelerating into contact, swinging a rigid arm or leaving the ground.