The Varsity Cup, which concluded with Shimlas’ thrilling victory over UCT on Monday night, was the first prominent competition in South Africa to implement these laws. According to detailed match data, the number of penalties for high tackles decreased from 14.5 per round to only 7.5 towards the end of the league phase of the competition. Furthermore, ball carriers were more aware of dipping their heads lower than their hips, with penalties in this area declining from three in the opening round to zero during the past two rounds.
SA Rugby CEO Rian Oberholzer commended the efforts of all involved in the Varsity Cup.
Oberholzer highlighted SA Rugby’s commitment to promoting safety at the amateur level. He urged referees to continue enforcing the laws consistently, while coaches and players should familiarize themselves with the new regulations. He emphasized that ongoing collaboration and dedication among all parties will lead to further positive outcomes.
The rugby boss stressed the importance of correct tackling technique, including penalizing tacklers with upright body positions, ball carriers leading into contact with their bodies horizontal and heads lower than hips, and applying zero tolerance to tacklers diving at the limbs of ball carriers.
Oberholzer acknowledged that referees may not be perfect in their implementation, but noted a significant improvement. He encouraged players and coaches to take the new laws seriously and make the necessary adjustments to ensure player safety.
SA Rugby encourages all involved in the community game to embrace these changes and work together to create a safer environment for the sport.
