New tackle laws have been introduced by Rugby Australia in 2024, as part of an initial two year trial, lowering the legal tackle height to below the sternum and at this stage, the jury is still out in regards to the impact the new rules will have.

Some Shute Shield coaches think it will change the game drastically and have spent all summer redesigning their game plan on both sides of the ball.

Others think it’s all been overhyped, while some have admitted that they are waiting to see how the first few rounds are refereed before deciding which way they will take their game this season.

As fans, we’re now excited by the changes after talking things through with many of the best rugby minds in the state.

Sure, there are going to be some teething issues early on and a whole heap of penalties as a result. But eventually as players adapt, the game is going to open up a lot in both attack and defence.

Here’s a few reasons why.

Offloads and pop passes are back

Without diving too deep into it, the law changes will impact the second tackler in more-so than anyone else. 

The first tackler in has always targeted the sternum, or lower. It’s the second tackler that has typically aimed higher over the past decade or two, in the hope of locking up the ball and slowing down the attack. 

The second tackler is almost always going to be in danger of making contact above the sternum. 

If you remove the second tackler, the ball is less likely to be locked up or slowed down, allowing attackers to offload, or hit the ground and pop a pass to a nearby teammate to continue the attack. 

It should lead to a more attacking, free flowing, faster style of rugby. Which is exactly what we’ve all been screaming out for in recent years. 

It also sets our game up for the future. 

Avoidable contact with the head can’t and won’t continue. These rule changes will reduce head contact and make rugby more entertaining. 

Our mates in rugby league, a sport proudly based on as much contact as possible, won’t be able to adapt in the same way. 

But they’ll always have Vegas. 

Jacklers are back

There’s also impacts on the other side of the ball when you remove the second tackler. 

If an attacking player doesn’t offload or pop a pass, there will be far more opportunity for a jackler to quickly get on the ball and cause a turnover or win a penalty. 

It opens the game right up for a smaller, on the ball forwards (think Zac Barnabas) to cause absolute mayhem at the breakdown and consistently turn defence into attack for their side.

Again, watching smaller, faster forwards destroy guys twice their size at the breakdown is another fantastic element of our game that will only benefit from the rule changes and add more entertainment value to the sport. 

It’s going to take time

It might take a while to fully appreciate the benefits of these new law changes and initially, there’s going to be some pain.

The referees will play a big part in managing the transition but from all reports, the dialogue between clubs and the refs has been open and positive over the summer.

At the end of the day, the referees will be learning at the same time as the players, coaches and fans and will also deserve the benefit of the doubt in the opening few weeks and months. 

But in the long run, this really should have a positive impact and make rugby safer and more entertaining for us and for future generations.