Ben Earl interview: ‘I have become a professional golfer who plays a bit of rugby on the side!’
The Daily Telegraph · Charles Richardson ·
Exclusive: England back-rower’s impressive exploits extend beyond rugby, although he has written a dissertation on his sport’s law-tinkering
Laws will be introduced in November regarding the hip-drop tackle and a reinforcement of existing regulations surrounding the knee-drop equivalent. There will also be extra emphasis on brake foots – covered in Earl’s dissertation, as he believes that the unintended consequence is a far greater load on the neck and hamstring of a hooker – and on the way looseheads bind at scrums. Some of these directives, particularly the hip-drop tackle, will be refereed globally this weekend for the first time.
“If I had given myself another month on my dissertation I would have had more material!” Earl says. “Rugby is a weird sport. Changing laws halfway through the year is... an interesting one. I’m not paid to make the rules.
“But I’m very pleased that the hip-drop tackle will be gone. It’s not a malicious thing but, once you know you cannot do it, it will be gone quickly enough. It’s super dangerous. They are pretty awful.
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