A leading sport's doctor has praised the new laws to be trialled in NZ community rugby.
NZ Rugby has announced experimental domestic safety law variations that will be rolled out in school and club rugby next season, as part of an ongoing commitment to improving participants' experiences, safety, and the appeal of the game.
All Black fullback Jordie Barrett was red-carded, but cleared of a reckless or dangerous play charge this week, after leaping high for the ball and contacting Wallabies winger Marika Koroibete in the face with his boot.
Under the new rules, the simple act of jumping for the ball could also become illegal.
"The Jordie Barrett experience on the weekend probably couldn't have come at a better time in terms of introducing this community law trial," admits NZ Rugby community rugby manager Steve Lancaster.
Players remaining on the ground when catching high balls is one of the new laws to be trialled in various forms of the game - in Small Blacks, teenage and senior rugby - next year.
Others include tackles below the sternum, and enhancing the breakdown and scrums.
With such drastic changes, Lancaster acknowledges the need to balance injury surveillance data with qualitative feedback.
"The data will tell us one part of the story, but we actually want to know do they make the game more attractive, more enjoyable to play and if they don't, it will influence whether we deem it a success or otherwise," he says.
Former Blues doctor Stephen Kara welcomes the trials.
"I don't know if it'll be enough to make everyone satisfied and happy," he says. "There's always outliers, but I think rugby is taking a positive approach towards player safety and welfare, without compromising the basic nature of the game."
But Dr Kara believes more can be done.
"I think we need to look at the tackler themselves and ensure that while we protect the ball carrier, we're not making any added risks to the tackler by making that area smaller."
Player safety remains paramount for New Zealand and World Rugby, but just how it affects the game itself is still to be determined.
