Tackling in League is safer than Union – Burrell
LUTHER Burrell has branded Rugby Union’s obsession with lowering tackle heights as “ridiculous”.
Rising concussion rates have been cited by World Rugby as the main driver behind a raft of law changes – both current and experimental – aimed at reducing the height of tackles, with one potential outcome being banning tackling above the waist.
However, Rugby League predominantly involves upright tackling and Burrell has been surprised by how few players require head injury assessments compared with Union, in which the number of red and yellow cards for high tackles has mushroomed.
Burrell said: “It’s all upper body tackling in League and it’s been very surreal to say to the boys that in Union most of the tackles would be a sending off!
“It’s not just about the big hit, though, it’s about managing contact and slowing the game down and there’s a lot less concussion in League. That’s because it’s all top tackling and you’re not getting your head clattered on someone’s knee or hip.
“When I’ve been concussed in Union it’s normally because my head’s been caught on someone’s hip, whereas in League you’re taught to get your body in front, keep your head high and lead with your head and shoulders in twos and threes. You have body on body and while head injuries do happen, there’s nowhere near the same number.”
With many people fearing a Rugby World Cup card-fest in Japan, Burrell added: “Union’s got to be careful because they’re just going to spoil the game if they keep changing the laws and trying to get tackle heights lower and lower.
“You obviously have to have a certain amount of safety for junior players coming through but the sendings off and yellow cards we see are ridiculous.
“Those tackles aren’t actually the ones that are dangerous, it’s when your head is down below and gets in an awkward position that gets players knocked out.
“I’m a big fan of making the game safer but from what I’m experiencing in League, I just feel Union has to be very careful in how they’re going about it.”