EPCR boss Simon Halliday demands changes to game laws

European rugby boss Simon Halliday has called for high tackles and the clearing out of stationary players to be “immediately” banned by World Rugby in order to reduce the number of concussions in the game.
The EPCR chairman and former Bath and England centre reckons getting rid of these two “unacceptable” offences would make the game safer to play.
Halliday told The Rugby Paper: “I’m an ex-player and I look at what is being penalised in the game and in my view high tackles and clearing out of stationary players at the ruck is absolutely unacceptable.
“World Rugby has to change it immediately. I don’t see any excuse for it in the game and you’re getting more head injuries because of it.
“Prevention is a key thing and I think we’re sleep-walking into a problem.”
Canadian lock Jamie Cudmore is considering legal action against his former club Clermont for sending him back onto the pitch despite failing two head injury assessments in two games – the 2015 Champions Cup semi-final against Saracens, and the final two weeks later against Toulon.
On both occasions the 38-year-old was allowed to carry on and EPCR director general Vincent Gaillard suggests Clermont could be disciplined for their actions.
He said: “It’s possible to see clubs being fined for failing to respect the HIA protocols and we’re aware of the situation. We’ve engaged with Jamie and we’ll keep doing so to support him in raising awareness.
“We’ve now created a player welfare advisory board with chief medical officers from the Six Nations involved in the competition as well as reps from the three leagues.”
Halliday has called for guidance from World Rugby on the matter as well as the disciplinary process which has hit the headlines.
In recent weeks, All Black Owen Franks failed to be cited for an alleged gouge on Australia’s Kane Douglas in the Bledisloe Cup clash, and last week, Brive fly-half Matthieu Ugalde was given a 14-week ban for gauging.
World Rugby said they could not intervene on SANZAR’s findings over Franks but they did ban Joe Marler, who had been cleared by a Six Nations panel, for his ‘Gipsy Boy’ comment earlier this year.
Halliday added: “We’re desperate for some guidance from World Rugby about concussions and the disciplinary process, we don’t have anything at the moment.
“World Rugby vice-chairman Agustin Pichot makes some good statements about it but I want to see some action. There’s a world-governing body and you can’t ask everybody to deal with everything in isolation.”
NICK VERDIER