Episode 36: New Zealand Rugby's community tackle height changes for 2023

Advantage Over podcast for rugby referees

Today, I'm joined by New Zealand Rugby's Mike Hester to chat about their law variations for the 2023 rugby season. They include a lower tackle height, a restriction on scrum halves and for the pack as a whole. All three are important for all referees and match officials across Aotearoa.

Mike is NZR's Game Participation Manager, and he tells me about:

• His background as an elite referee - in football!
• His shift into game participation
• The shape of New Zealand rugby and the challenges they face
• The tackle height changes in New Zealand for 2023 and what's behind them
• Other changes in the game - scrum half restrictions, 1.5m push
• Future consultation on changes to the breakdown
• Referee recruitment and retention in NZ - this is the research Mike mentions about the early refereeing experience of community referees

More on the changes: New Zealand Rugby game innovations 2023

Contact Mike via LinkedIn

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