Sitting Duck' Ireland's Reaction To RFU Waist-High Tackling
Sitting Duck' Ireland's Reaction To RFU Waist-High Tackling
Ireland skipper Johnny Sexton has disagreed with the RFU decision to limit the community game in England to waist-high tackles, which starts next season.
![Sitting Duck' Ireland's Reaction To RFU Waist-High Tackling](https://d2779tscntxxsw.cloudfront.net/63cf7022731ea.png?width=1200&quality=80)
Ireland skipper Johnny Sexton has strongly disagreed with the RFU decision to limit the community game in England to waist-high tackles, which starts next season. It's an initiative also criticized by his national team coach, Andy Farrell.
Sexton, a veteran player, regularly has encountered head knocks throughout his lengthy career, and though the new initiative in England doesn't apply at professional level, he has taken a dim view of the impending change and would hate for it to be introduced by the IRFU into the grassroots game in Ireland.
Asked at the Guinness Six Nations launch in London on Monday what he thought of the English community game measure, and if he would be in favor of its introduction in Ireland, Sexton didn't hold back in explaining his dissatisfaction with the change.
![](https://d2779tscntxxsw.cloudfront.net/63cf6cf605714.png?width=680)
"Look, I don't agree with it," he stressed. "There's no point sitting on the fence really, is there? I just think you have got tall people who play the game, and it should be their decision how they tackle.
"Of course, we need to get the head shots out of the game, but I think the tackles we really need to take out of the game are the reckless, out of control, sprinting out of the line, tucking arms - all these you know - hitting someone there I don't think should be option.
"And it is not like you can't get concussed chopping someone's knees. You know, I see a hell of a lot of concussions - people getting their head on the wrong side, a knee to the temple or a hip even to the side of the head. So, I strongly disagree."
Ireland boss Farrell, who was at a grassroots game at Coolmine in Dublin on Sunday to watch his youngest son Gabriel play, added: "It is super important that what has come with that is the correct coaching in the correct way, correct the technique because of the reasons that Johnny has just said.
"If you are just saying to a kid that you need to tackle lower, then you even become more vulnerable in my opinion you know, if you are just sitting there with just your arms in front trying to wrap and get the head down etc. You are a sitting duck waiting to happen.
"So, the coaching and the technique of how it is applied to tackling below the waist is absolutely crucial. Otherwise, we are going to have a serious problem."
Related Content
- The Top Five Tries From The 2024 July International Test Series
Jul 24, 2024
- July International Series | Top 5 Match Defining Moments
Jul 23, 2024
- Team Of The July Series: Bok Power, Superb Irish And Resurgent Wallabies
Jul 16, 2024
- Highlight: South Africa Springboks vs Ireland July 13 | 2024 Summer Internationals
Jul 15, 2024
- Ice Cold Frawley Sinks Springboks In Durban With Deadly Drop Goals
Jul 13, 2024
- Replay: South Africa Vs. Ireland | Jul 13 @ 3 PM
Jul 13, 2024
- Ireland Rugby Vs. South Africa Springboks Live Updates And Scores Recap
Jul 13, 2024
- Confident And Clinical Wallabies Dispatch Of Plucky Welsh In Melbourne
Jul 13, 2024
- Replay: Manu Samoa Vs. Spain | Jul 13 @ 4 PM
Jul 13, 2024