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Lam urges law change to eliminate ‘latching'
The Rugby Paper
|May 09, 2021
PAT Lam hopes World Rugby will act quickly to outlaw an attacker latching on to a ball carrier before a tackle has been made, fearing an increase in concussion rates if nothing is done.
The Premiership head coaches had a Zoom call last week with the head of the referees at Twickenham, Tony Spreadbury, about latching and World Rugby is in the coming weeks holding a breakdown workshop when the issue will be discussed.
Lam, Bristol’s director of rugby, is among those pressing for a law change. “We had a good chat with Tony Spreadbury and he gave us clarity,” said Lam.
“You are allowed to tackle the carrier and the latcher, but we are talking about the health and safety of players and the risk of head injuries. There should be no latching before contact.
This story is from the May 09, 2021 edition of The Rugby Paper.
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