SA Rugby bans tackling for players under nine in major safety shift

SA Rugby is tightening safety rules for its youngest players, announcing that children under the age of nine will now play only non-contact formats like TAG and Touch, with tackling introduced only from the U9 level.

This follows the implementation of a structured and standardised “Confidence and Safety in Contact” programme.

This preparatory phase will be introduced during the second half of the U8 season to build foundational skills, including falling, rolling, wrestling, and absorbing contact. It will also form part of a six-week pre-season readiness block before the start of the U9 rugby programme.

Clint Readhead, General Manager of SA Rugby’s Medical Department, highlighted the necessity of the change:

“South Africa is currently the only major rugby nation without a clearly defined age at which children may begin tackling. With more than 400,000 primary school players, one of the largest youth rugby bases in the world, this gap has created inconsistency, safety risks, and confusion across provinces, schools, clubs, and academies.”

He added that the framework, which aligns with international best practice and models unions like the Blue Bulls, is a decisive step toward “ensuring player safety, protecting development pathways, and establishing a uniform national framework.”

This approach has been shown to enhance both safety and long-term player performance by delaying tackling and prioritising fun and fundamental skill development.

The proposal was developed by a special SA Rugby task team, established in 2024, with a mandate to determine the safest, developmentally appropriate point for children to begin tackling.

Ian Schwartz, General Manager of SA Rugby’s Participation & Development Department, welcomed the alignment:

“We are excited to finally have a tackle age aligned across the rugby ecosystem in South Africa. It will be enforced system-wide – schools, clubs, associate members, and non-affiliated rugby organisations working with youth. Ultimately, it’s about Long-Term Player Development (LTPD) and player safety: preparing young players for contact to prevent injuries, retain passion, and build a sustainable rugby pathway.”

Noël Ingle, former chairperson of the SA Schools Rugby Association (SASRA), noted that the Task Team drew on medical and scientific expertise, comparative research, international benchmarks, and broad stakeholder consultation.

The proposal also mandates enhanced coach education, requiring all primary school and youth coaches to complete a suite of World Rugby and BokSmart online certifications, including:

All supporting materials will be made available on the SA Rugby website in 2026.

The compulsory implementation of the standard tackle age across all youthrugby and amateur rugby structures will officially commence in 2026.