The Welsh Rugby Union has been warned not to make the same "bungled" mistakes as the Rugby Football Union when it comes to lowering the height of tackles.
England's RFU announced on Thursday the decision to lower the tackle height to the waist at community level which caused uproar among English rugby's grassroots clubs.
The move was done with the intention of reducing the risk of brain injuries such as concussion but was communicated badly by the RFU who were forced to issue a humiliating apology.
Welsh rugby could now see similar changes implemented and professor John Fairclough, who is a leading orthopaedic surgeon and a member of Progressive Rugby, has urged the WRU to act more responsibly than their English counterparts.
“The RFU needs to know that its bungled handling of communicating a new tackle law to the community game in England has been as potentially damaging as it has been embarrassing," he said. “Instead of being a catalyst for constructive debate on safety – a conversation that we truly believe the majority of the game are prepared to have – this painfully ill-thought-out approach ignited a fear and loathing that has instead focussed the narrative on injustice and inequality which is stretching to Wales. Instead of respectful and valuable debate on how to evolve the game, this announcement was so bereft of detail, data, explanation or information that it left a gaping void to be filled with understandable bitterness and confusion."
Progressive Rugby are a non-profit player welfare lobby group who are supportive of anything which makes the game safer.
They insist they haven't been able to scrutinise the data upon which the RFU have made their decision and believe the tackle should be lowered to armpit height to "to lower the contact area away from the head, but giving players realistic options in each dynamic tackle situation".
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With World Rugby intending to lower the legal tackling height at elite level worldwide over the coming years to reduce the risk of head injuries, Fairclough has urged the WRU to learn from the RFU's mistakes by being more transparent with players and coaches.
“For a governing body to be so oblivious to the community game’s reaction, does nothing to change the view that it is sorely out of touch with those incredible local rugby servants who volunteer their time each week to play, coach and support what is the lifeblood of the game," he said.
“Time will tell if the garbled apology is anything more than that, or whether they are simply words and actions to be played out like some sheepish charade.
“For our part, Progressive Rugby will remain as passionate as ever and we hope the WRU, itself in turmoil at the moment, will learn from the RFU’s mistake assuming it is looking at similar changes.
“This great game deserves our time, it has certainly given us more than we can ever repay. It is only right that we all look to work together to secure its future for the enjoyment of generations to come.”
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