[Flumpty]

World Rugby to test waist-height tackles as part of trial https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/49281949.. It'll be offload heaven !

& a raft of other intiatives as well.

Interesting times that we live in

[poyntonshark]

Waist high tackling coupled with the 50:22 keeping wingers back will likely lead to much more open games but with a danger that the game becomes more basketball than rugby. My initial reaction to defending drop out for held up is positive, but don't think they are helping referees with immediate roll away from rucks, but I need to consider those changes some more.

[Alex]

Not sure how the tackling would work, trying to tackle Naiyaravoro or Tuilagi at knee level will surely lead to more concussions than tackling them higher up?

[Doddies left boot]

Big guys only come down if you go low!!!
Anyway this change would lead to a massive change in the game as it would lead to offloading out of every tackle. In turn defensive structures would need to change, players defending the offload rather than the double high/low tackle. Game would speed up to a Figi style chuck it around.
Could it also change the "shape" of rugby players. Faster more nimble players looking for intercepts, line breaks etc.
Interesting idea.
Not sure it will work. I would have thought below the armpit would be ideal.
Also final thought in age grade try getting the big tall "awkward" kid to tackle the small nippy kid round the legs. Its a technique you can develop with time but at times it takes until Colts.

[Alex]

They might come down that way but the chances of getting a knee or hip to the head increase so you're now putting the tackler at risk

[poyntonshark]

Don't think the stats back that up Alex. Something like 4 times more likely to suffer concussion in an upright tackle rather than a 'low' tackle.