The law will now read: 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 above the nipple line even if the tackle starts below the nipple line.

The match citing commissioner will issue a “High Tackle Warning” to THE TACKLER WHO IS DEEMED TO BE UPRIGHT (NOT BENT AT THE WAIST)

A tackler will be deemed to be upright when:

• They are in an approximate upright standing position
• They have made no clear attempt to lower the height of contact with the ball carrier to avoid the head or shoulders of the ball carrier
• There is no knee flexion and minimal bending at the waist which brings the head into a dangerous position for collision with ball carrier’s head or shoulder

The high tackle warning will be issued in one of four types of incidents:

• All HIGH-CONTACT PENALTIES, irrespective of sanction, during matches
• All TACKLES THAT RESULT IN AN HIA, irrespective of whether to tackler or ball-carrier
• High tackles that are missed during the match
• Accidental clear and obvious head to head and head to shoulder contact

Sanctions:

• The High Tackle Warning is issued ONLY IF THE TACKLER IS UPRIGHT, AND THERE IS CLEAR AND OBVIOUS HEAD CONTACT for either player
• Each High Tackle Warning carries ‘one strike’.When ‘two strikes’ (two High Tackle Warnings) have been issued, a player will receive a one-match suspension (a right to appeal will operate)
• High Tackle Warnings also form part of the usual accumulation of sanctions, including Citing Commissioner Warnings (CCWs) and yellow cards. A strong education element will be run in parallel, explaining that this player welfare initiative protects the tackler and their opponents