Scottish Rugby wishes to remind clubs, schools and societies about the upcoming consultations, which start this week, on the review of tackle height laws for the 2023/24 season. Below you'll find a recap of all the information which led up to communicating this update, along with links and information you need to sign up to take part.

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On Monday 23 January, the Club Rugby Board (CRB) received a presentation from Scottish Rugby’s Rugby Development Department on the benefits of law trials lowering the tackle height in the community game – an initiative supported by World Rugby.

In research studies conducted in France and South Africa, lowering the tackle height has been shown to reduce the number of head-on-head contacts and concussions. Lowering the tackle height has also shown positive outcomes regarding increased ball-in-play time and offloading.

The CRB has agreed for the Rugby Development department to deliver a period of consultation with players, coaches and referees to ensure those closest to the community game can contribute to establishing the way forward to a safer game for all.

As a result, a series of consultative webinars will be delivered this week, where Scottish Rugby will gather views from a broad spectrum of stakeholders within the community game.

During the webinars, representatives from Rugby Development will share more information on the cited research, discuss possible law changes which may be considered and take views from those in attendance.

Tackle Height Consultation Webinars

• Wednesday 22 February, 7:30pm | National League club representatives (for club leaders and committee members) | Click HERE to register.
• Wednesday 22 February, 8:30pm | Regional League club representatives (for club leaders and committee members) | Click HERE to register.
• Thursday 23 February, 7:30pm | Match Officials (for panel, society, club and school match officials) | Click HERE to register.
• Monday 27 February, 7:30pm | Youth Game (for players, coaches and directors of rugby) | Click HERE to register.
• Monday 27 February, 8:30pm | Adult Game (for players, coaches and directors of rugby) | Click HERE to register.

Following these initial consultations, the Club Rugby Board and the Rugby Development department will communicate next steps.

Although there is one round of Tennent's Men's Premiership left to play, taking place this weekend, the semi-final play-off spots have now been confirmed.

Topping the table with 16 wins and 75 league points, Hawick will host last season's championship winners, Marr, after they finished in fourth place.

Currie Chieftains and Edinburgh Accies will once again face-off for a spot in the final, with the Chieftains hosting at Malleny Park finishing in second place just six league points ahead of Accies.

Stay tuned over the coming weeks as Scottish Rugby preview the semi-finals and build up to the final on Saturday 11 March.

Saturday 4 March
Currie Chieftains v Edinburgh Academical, KO 3pm
Hawick v Marr, KO 3pm

Scottish Rugby will host a Community Game Conference for club, school, and society representatives on Sunday 11 June 2023 at BT Murrayfield.

Building on the success of last year’s Game Development Conference, attended by over 250 coaches and match officials from across the domestic game, this year’s conference will also include sessions for club, school and society leaders and volunteers.

Further details of sessions and guest speakers along with registration details for the conference will be confirmed later in Spring.

Click below to view highlights from last year’s Game Development Conference.

The Scottish Government (SG) has published a public consultation on potential alcohol advertising and promoting restrictions in Scotland. 

The SG committed to consulting and engaging on a range of potential measures, including mandatory restrictions on alcohol marketing, in their Alcohol Framework 2018.

The consultation paper, available here, is wide ranging and covers potential restrictions on all of the major sources of alcohol advertising and promotion in Scotland, including advertising outdoors, in-store, and through sports and events sponsorship. Clearly, this could have serious financial implications for rugby clubs and the Government is keen to hear your views. 

An Easy Read version of the consultation paper has been produced and can be accessed here.

Scottish Rugby invites clubs to consider responding to the consultation via Citizen Space using the following link: https://consult.gov.scot/alcohol-policy/alcohol-advertising-and-promotion. You can save and return to your responses while the consultation is still open.

Please note the consultation will close on Thursday 9 March.

If you have any questions regarding any of the above please contact rugbydevelopmentadmin@sru.org.uk.