New Tackle Height Laws: What Every Rugby Parent and Coach in Colorado Needs to Know

Rugby is a physical game. That is part of what makes it so powerful. But physical does not have to mean reckless: and the 2026 community tackle-height laws are designed to help players enjoy the game with better technique, clearer expectations, and fewer avoidable head impacts.

For youth rugby families and coaches in Colorado, the key message is simple: the legal tackle height is lower, and good coaching matters more than ever.

At SAFFA RUGBY ACADEMY, this is not a brand-new philosophy. Our World Rugby certified coaches already teach safe, low-contact, wrap-style tackling that keeps the head out of dangerous positions and develops confident, intelligent defenders.

Here is what Colorado rugby parents, players, and coaches need to know.

What changed with the 2026 community tackle law?

World Rugby approved a lower legal tackle height as full law for community rugby. The change takes effect from July 1, 2026, for community seasons beginning after that date.

Under the updated law, unions may choose one of two tackle-height options:

• The waist

• The base of the sternum

The base of the sternum is the lower part of the breastbone, well below the shoulders and away from the head and neck.

In the United States, youth and community rugby has already been working with the base-of-the-sternum standard since September 1, 2024. That means Colorado players and coaches should already be familiar with the expectation that tackles above the base of the sternum can be penalized during open-field play.

Rugby Colorado states that its activities are governed by:

• The Laws of World Rugby

• USA Youth & High School Rugby policies

• Rugby Colorado competition rules

Because of that structure, families should always check the latest age-group and competition guidance directly through Rugby Colorado’s rules and policies. Local competition rules may add age-specific variations, particularly for younger players.

What does “below the sternum” look like on the field?

For many parents, the most important question is practical: Where should a player actually make contact?

The safest target area is generally around the ball carrier’s:

• Hips

• Waist

• Upper thighs

• Lower torso, below the sternum line

A legal tackle is not simply a matter of aiming lower. It requires the tackler to move their feet, get their body position right, and complete the tackle with control.

A strong wrap-style tackle usually includes:

This is the kind of technical foundation we build at SAFFA RUGBY ACADEMY. The goal is not to make players hesitant. The goal is to make them more effective, more confident, and more consistent.

What parents should understand

The updated law is about player welfare, but it does not turn rugby into a non-contact sport.

Players will still tackle, carry, ruck, compete, and make brave defensive decisions. The difference is that the law encourages those actions to happen from safer body positions.

Parents may notice a few changes during training and matches:

• Coaches spending more time on tackle technique

• Referees penalizing contact above the sternum line

• Players being reminded to stay lower in defense

• More emphasis on footwork and positioning

• Greater attention to how ball carriers enter contact

It is also important to understand that the tackle-height law does not replace the existing laws around head and neck contact. If there is direct contact with the head or neck, officials still apply the appropriate head-contact process.

Ball carriers also have responsibilities. A ball carrier must not deliberately or suddenly lead into contact with the head in a way that prevents a legal tackle. In other words, safe rugby is a shared responsibility between the tackler, the ball carrier, the coach, and the match official.

For younger athletes, this is especially valuable. A player who learns safe body position early is building a skill that can carry into every future level of rugby.

What coaches need to change: or reinforce

For coaches, the new law should be viewed as an opportunity to improve the quality of training sessions.

Rather than treating tackle height as a rule players memorize before match day, coaches can make it part of the team’s everyday defensive language.

Useful coaching cues include:

• “Eyes up.”

• “Shoulder below the sternum.”

• “Head to the side.”

• “Step, shoulder, wrap.”

• “Keep your feet moving.”

• “Finish safely.”

• “No head-first contact.”

Training should progress from low-contact and controlled drills toward more realistic game situations. Players need to learn how tackle height changes when they are:

• Moving forward at speed

• Defending in space

• Covering a teammate

• Tackling a larger ball carrier

• Recovering after a missed tackle

• Making a tackle near the try line

• Entering contact around rucks and mauls

The USA Youth & High School guidance explains that the open-field wording is designed to distinguish higher-speed running contact from lower-speed situations such as pick-and-go play around rucks, mauls, and the try line. Coaches should review the current competition guidance rather than relying on memory or social media summaries.

At SAFFA RUGBY, our coaching development programs focus on player safety, skill development, tactical understanding, and team culture. A law change is only effective when coaches can teach it clearly and players can apply it under pressure.

Why SAFFA RUGBY was already teaching this way

Safe tackling is not a temporary response to a rule change. It is part of responsible rugby coaching.

Our coaches bring World Rugby educator and coaching certifications, along with authentic South African rugby experience. That background shapes how we teach contact: with discipline, technique, awareness, and respect for the person on the other side of the tackle.

At SAFFA RUGBY ACADEMY, players are not thrown straight into uncontrolled contact. They learn progressively:

• Body position before contact

• Footwork and tracking

• Shoulder placement

• Wrapping mechanics

• Safe falling and landing

• Decision-making in defensive situations

• Communication with teammates

• How to reset after a tackle

This approach works for boys and girls, beginners and experienced players, and athletes with different body types and levels of confidence. That matters in Colorado, where girls’ rugby is growing rapidly and more young female athletes are discovering the sport every season.

Raising the standard means raising the safety standard

At SAFFA RUGBY, development is about more than winning the next match. It is about building players who understand the game, trust their technique, support their teammates, and compete with confidence.

“Raising the Standard” means expecting quality in every part of rugby: including the way we tackle.

For players, that means learning to make contact with courage and control.

For parents, it means asking questions about how a program teaches safety and progression.

For coaches, it means continuing to develop their own knowledge and giving players practical tools they can use under pressure.

And for the rugby community, it means creating an environment where athletes can grow without losing the joy, intensity, and culture that make rugby special.

A simple checklist for Colorado rugby families

Before the 2026 season gets fully underway, parents and players can take a few simple steps:

1. Ask your club or school which tackle-height standard applies.

2. Review the latest Rugby Colorado competition rules.

3. Talk with your child’s coach about tackle progression and contact expectations.

4. Encourage your player to focus on technique rather than simply “hitting harder.”

5. Make sure players understand that head-first contact is never the goal.

6. Choose development programs led by appropriately certified coaches.

The lower tackle-height law is a major shift in the way community rugby teaches and manages contact. But for programs built around sound technique, it is also a natural next step.

At SAFFA RUGBY ACADEMY, we are ready to help Colorado players and coaches meet that standard. Through player development clinics, youth rugby initiatives, coaching development, and 1-to-1 sessions, we help athletes learn the skills and game intelligence needed to play hard, play smart, and play safely.

The future of Colorado rugby is growing; and it should grow on a foundation of respect, teamwork, resilience, and excellent coaching.

For the most current age-group requirements and competition interpretations, always consult your club, Rugby Colorado, USA Youth & High School Rugby, and the official World Rugby laws.