BY JOHN DAVIDSON
Salford Red Devils head coach Paul Rowley has thrown his support behind the RFL’s new rules designed to make the sport safer and limit brain injuries.
Under the changes players will only be allowed to tackle at armpit height and lower, there will be independent concussion spotters at games, and players will be limited in the total amount of time they can be on the field.
There will also be a mandatory six weeks break from contract training each year for professionals and further changes made at the junior level, including the replacement of contact at some age grades by touch and tag rugby league.
Rowley, a former Super League hooker who played four tests for England, has coached Leigh, Toronto and Salford.
The 48-year-old believes these changes are “non-negotiable” for the health and safety of those who play rugby league.
“We have the ability to change and adapt as a sport and these changes are non-negotiable for the immediate and longer-term health and safety of our athletes, therefore I fully support the direction the governing body are taking,” he told rugbyleaguehub.com Long Reads.Â
“The rules are being implemented because of quantitative research and knowledge gained.Â
“I do however think there is a huge responsibility placed upon our leaders and stakeholders to support the grassroots coaches to deliver best practice and clarity on what that looks like to our future players.”
There has been a strong backlash against the new RFL guidelines from many supporters and players.
A petition to halt the implementation of the new tackle rules has so far attracted more than 3,300 signatures.
