Amateur rugby: the number of injuries decreases thanks to the new rules

What do the new rules come into force in amateur rugby from Federal 2 (the 4th division) to the 4th Series, the 11th and last level?

These new measures taken after the death of four players provided for a lowering of the tackle at the waist, the prohibition for the ball carrier to go into head-forward contact and the prohibition of the two-man tackle.

The French Rugby Federation (FFR) volunteered with World Rugby to launch the test phase entitled "Bien Joué" made an initial assessment of the operation started during the 2018-2019 season and continued since.

A balance sheet necessarily truncated over the last financial year since the championships did not come to an end last spring because of the health crisis.

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First lesson according to the instance, the new rules have brought down the number of serious injuries.

Now, a suspected concussion is reported every… 310 games.

Another observation is that a player is injured on average every 33 games.

Figures that go according to the FFR in the direction of better taking into account the health of amateur players.

"After the dramatic accidents that have occurred, it was important to question yourself," said Didier Retière, the national technical director of the FFR.

We have implemented these new rules so that our sport remains attractive, especially among young people.

It was necessary to ensure that rugby was not more dangerous than any other.

What this study proves.

We also wanted rugby to be more attractive with a game of ball possession and animation rather than focusing on combat.

In this sense, this observatory is a real success.

"

"Catastrophic" beginnings

The introduction of the new rules necessarily disrupted all the players in the game at first. "We are not going to lie to each other, the beginnings were very difficult, recognizes Rémi Ducastel, the 3rd center line of Pontault-Combault, who plays in Federal 2. Frankly, at the beginning, it was catastrophic.

It turned everyone upside down, players, coaches and referees.

I remember the first games where there had to be at least 50 penalties per game.

We, the players, almost felt like we were changing sports.

Some even told me that under these conditions they were going to stop.

It didn't happen because, little by little, we got used to these new rules.

"

But with the months that have passed, the observation is unequivocal: "All the rules that go in the direction of protecting the players are obviously to be welcomed," said Rémi Ducastel.

Waist tackle is a good rule of thumb.

I am however more skeptical about the two tackle.

When a 130kg monster comes 5m from your goal line, I don't see how you can stop it on your own.

It is strictly impossible.

"

According to Didier Retière, the new regulations also had an impact on the type of game played.

In the figures presented, the federation has seen an explosion of passing passes in contact (+ 58%), an increase in passes between rucks (+ 10%) and a clear drop in kicking (-31%) and therefore against -attacks (-32%) linked to it.

A gap between the pro and amateur world

Of all injuries, tackling is logically the most sensitive action in rugby.

The FFR study shows that 60% of injured players are injured as a result of a tackle.

“That does not surprise me, continues the young man of 29 years.

My last three injuries, often sprains, were after a tackle.

On the other hand, what appeals to me is the gap that exists between the pros and us.

It was already before this change, it will be even more so now.

"

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A difference fully assumed by the FFR.

"World Rugby discovers that it is interesting that amateur rugby does not have the same rules as professional rugby", estimates the DTN, which reinforces its idea that amateurs and professionals should not be housed in the same boat, these the latter being much better prepared physically for this contact sport.