This represents the first evidence-based law change to have shown to significantly reduce concussion risk in rugby.
The Tackle Behaviours Trial
The IRFU introduced the Tackle Behaviours Trial at the start of the 2023/24 season to reduce head contact risk in the community game. The legal tackle height was lowered to below the sternum, aligning with World Rugby’s global trial framework.
The trial was delivered in collaboration with the provinces, clubs, and schools, and supported by academic research across three focus areas:
- Injury Surveillance – Irish Rugby Injury Surveillance (IRIS) Project, University of Limerick (Prof. Ian Kenny and Prof. Tom Comyns)
- Video Analysis – World Rugby Global Tackle Height Trial, Trinity College Dublin (Dr. Anthony Ventresque)
- Stakeholder Engagement & Feedback – IRIS Project, University of Limerick
Breakthrough Results in Player Welfare
The Tackle Behaviours Trial, implemented across the 2023/24 and 2024/25 seasons, was designed to reduce the risk of head impacts and promote safer, more effective tackling by lowering the legal tackle height from the armpits to below the line of the sternum.
Key Insights
Comparing five pre-trial seasons to the two-season trial period, the IRFU recorded the following key results:
Concussion Rates
- Men’s All-Ireland League (AIL): ↓ 33%
- Women’s AIL: ↓ 18%
While significant decreases in concussion rates were observed in the Men’s and Women’s AIL, similar changes were not seen in the Schools’ SCT game. Following these findings, the IRFU and Provinces are committed to continuing to work with their schools to enhance education, tackle technique and player behaviours in our schools’ game.
Overall Injury Rates
- Men’s AIL: ↓ 18%
- Women’s AIL: ↓ 30%
- Schools’ Senior Cup (SCT): ↓ 19%
Tackle-Related Injuries
- Men’s AIL: ↓ 21%
- Women’s AIL: ↓ 34%
- Schools’ SCT: ↓ 10%
Video Analysis
- Head impacts reduced by 7%
- Ball-in-play time increased by approximately 4 minutes
- Offloads, rucks, and kicks in play all rose, showing improved game flow and continuity
A Step Forward for Safer, Smarter Rugby