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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Reiser99" data-source="post: 863016" data-attributes="member: 72977">Just for discussion about your last point, but this isn't just about how players jump and if they are catching a kick or a pass. It's also about how they are tackled, as it is often bad tackles that lead to players falling on their heads. Faumuina tackled so low he was almost lying on the ground. I know this is a technique many forwards use, but it meant he was underneath Sinkler tackling his feet and lower legs. This is where players can potentially be tipped over onto their heads. For me it is similar to a high tackle when a player is slipping. It's unfortunate circumstances with no intent, but the tackling player has ended up risking a head injury to another player and for me this is right as player welfare should be paramount, especially in light of new findings on retired players. I honestly don't see players practising to jump in the air to catch a pass, it's too risky and could easily lead to a knock on. As for jumping with ball in hand, I assume this is already illegal or wouldn't count as the jumping player is trying to draw a penalty intentionally. However players have risked injury to get penalties before, for example collapsing the scrum intentionally, which was very dangerous, so it could happen again.Onto your last point about diving for the corner, while I can see your point, for me this is slightly different as Sinckler was vertical, which meant as Faumuina took out his legs, his upper body went straight down from higher up and he had momentum from spinning around as well as the distance to the ground. It didn't happen this time, but he could have potentially landed on his head badly. When diving to the corner, the player is already diving down with more control and is close to the ground so when tackled the distance to the ground is minor in comparison and therefore the impact would not be the same. The diving player has also chosen to dive towards the ground. Though I guess from that ducking players have chosen to duck when tackled round the neck...The whole issue is difficult as you can't make a contact sport 100% safe. However I do think these rules are slowly improving players tackling and we are seeing less reckless tackles. There will always be mistakes or players who have a rush of blood to the head (SBW), but if there are less serious incidents it can only be for the better.</blockquote>

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