World Rugby launch new initiative to improve tackling - Page 3 of 3 - Ruck

World Rugby launch new initiative to improve tackling

3. Rolling substitutions

Already used at lower levels, this law could be quickly introduced to ease fears over player burn-out and injuries due to the long layoff. For example, the rolling substitutes would discourage players from carrying on if they pick up a knock and get themselves checked out.

The general rule for substitutes is that once a player has been substituted, he cannot be brought back in other than in four instances; (1) an injury to a front row player, (2) a player with a blood injury, (3) a player undertaking a head assessment injury (4) due to a player who has been injured due to a result of foul play.

With the rolling substitutes introduced, it means that players can be substituted for tactical purposes and not due to injury. This means that a player who started the game can be substituted during the match and later brought back to play.