Arbitres de Rugby Luxembourgeois - Lux Rugby Referees

26/06/2026

18/06/2026

APPROVED!
Tackle and ball carrier height implications + double simultaneous tackle options.

At World Rugby's Council meeting on 17 June 2026, new law wordings relating to the lower tackle height in the COMMUNITY GAME (as opposed to elite to be defined by each country, league or federation) were approved.

Law 9 - Game On variation – amendment
9.13 A player must not tackle an opponent early, late or dangerously. Dangerous tackling includes, but is not limited to, tackling or attempting to tackle an opponent which leads to head contact; or tackling or attempting to tackle an opponent above the relevant sanction line while either player is in open field play

Match organisers have (previously three but now) two choices on the sanction line: (shoulder not one of them anymore)
- base of sternum line or
- waist height

Law 14 - Game On addition:
14: Match organisers can choose whether to set a tackle height of the waist or to the base of the sternum line. They may also choose to sanction ball-carriers who drop their body height into a tackle and/or apply restrictions to teams who make double-tackles.

Additional optional clauses for Law 14 Game On variation
Ball carriers

A ball carrier in open play must not lower their height significantly before making dangerous contact with a tackler. Sanction: Penalty

Double tackles – flexible options

Two (or more) players may not simultaneously tackle a ball carrier in open play. Sanction: Penalty

When two (or more players) make a simultaneous tackle, only the primary tackler must meet the relevant sanction line. Any additional tackler(s) must be no higher than the line of the shoulder.

At World Rugby's Council meeting on 17 June 2026, new law wordings relating to the lower tackle height in the community game were approved. 

02/06/2026

Dear community,

Below a law clarification issued in relation to the actions of the 9 at, or while ending, a ruck following a change to the interpretation at the elite level since last year's Autumn Nations international window.
https://passport.world.rugby/laws-of-the-game/law-clarifications/2026/clarification-2-2026/

Request
NZRU have asked: Are the actions of a scrum half moving beyond the back foot of the ruck and moving the ball with their hands consistent with Ruck laws?

Relevant Laws
Law 15: Ruck

Offside at a ruck - 15.4: Each team has an offside line that runs parallel to the try line through the hindmost point of any ruck participant. If that point is on or behind the try line, the offside line for that team is the try line.

During a ruck - 15.11: Once a ruck has formed, no player may handle the ball unless they were able to get their hands on the ball before the ruck formed and stay on their feet.

Clarification of the designated members of the Rugby Committee
Response
The laws referenced should be read alongside the Playing Charter which is a part of the Laws of the Game. Together, they seek to establish “the essential balance between continuity of play and continuity of possession.” The Charter stresses the equal importance in Rugby Union of both – with nine references to ‘contest’ and eight references to ‘continuity’.

In the context the request, the rucks defined suggest a contest for possession is over, the ball secured and then the half back (or player fulfilling that role) is then playing the ball away to ensure continuity. The laws highlighted focus on the contest for possession. Match officials must apply the laws in the context of the Charter as well.

While the actions of the scrum half/half back do appear to contravene the pure law wordings, there is no material offence caused and so match officials are ensuring match continuity.

We would remind match officials that this should only be applied when the contest is clearly over; and of the previous Guideline in March 2024 around calling “Use it” as soon as the ball has been “clearly won by a team at the ruck and is available to be played.” This reduces the time for extra players to add themselves to the ruck.

We request World Rugby closely monitor this area of the game so objective data can be brought to the next Shape of the Game discussions for wider consideration, and for possible future law change discussions.

NZRU have asked: Are the actions of a scrum half moving beyond the back foot of the ruck and moving the ball with their hands consistent with Ruck laws?

25/03/2026

Become a ref!!!
Devenez arbitre!!!

21/02/2026

09/07/2025

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14/06/2025

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