Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
Carnegie Applied Rugby Research
Enhancing and evidencing global women’s rugby injury prevention and policy through tackle coaching.
Rugby must strike a careful balance: the challenge of promoting safety by reducing head impacts without compromising performance is critical for coaches at all levels. To support this, coaches need evidence-informed strategies that help minimise injury risk while building player confidence and effectiveness.
By collaborating with coaches and athletes, we have created, tested, and shared rugby contact and tackle coaching strategies that encourage both safe and effective techniques. Through collectively developing innovative approaches, we aim to promote safer tackling and foster a positive player welfare culture in a performance environment.
We adapted judo-based falling and landing techniques to improve tackle safety in rugby, drawing on research evidence and practical insights from players and coaches in women’s rugby. From this we have developed a series of short, practical and accessible coaching resources focussed on developing safer and more effective tackle techniques.
These ‘Contact Confident’ coaching resources were designed in collaboration with World Rugby to support coaches in everyday training environments. We’re evaluating the impact of this work on coaching practices and injury prevention outcomes. We invite coaches and players to share their feedback on our resource to help us enhance its value.
The session really helped me improve my tackling technique, especially in areas like falling when being tackled and reacting to another player’s movements. It’s had a big impact on my game over time, as I’ve been able to bring these elements into my own training sessions.
This project has the potential to significantly improve player safety by expanding the reach and influence of tackle coaching methods worldwide. By developing evidence-informed techniques and equipping coaches with effective tools and strategies, we’re supporting long-term cultural change around contact training and contributing to a global shift towards safer and more positive rugby environments.
You can view the twelve Contact Confident videos that were produced in the playlist below:
Download our Contact Confident PDF, which explains the stages of rugby contact curriculum.
Disclaimer: The tackle principles shown in the video resources may be practiced, but they are undertaken strictly at your own risk. Always ensure you do so safely, with proper supervision and equipment. The creators of this content accept no responsibility for any injuries or damages resulting from their use.
It’s been amazing to work alongside Dr Anna Stodter, Dr Kat McDonald and Leeds Beckett University on this Contact Confidence resource. This is one of the main areas parents and players ask me about every week, so I’m really proud to be part of something that will help answer those questions and support players in building their confidence in contact.
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