WEYMOUTH & Portland head coach Rich Bament feels the new laws on tackling introduced by governing body the Rugby Football Union (RFU) affect the community game most.

Back in April, the RFU ratified new laws on tackle height plus leading with limbs or heads into a tackle and jumping into or over an opponent.

Players must now tackle opponents below the base of the sternum and ball-carriers cannot stoop significantly before making contact in open play.

Bament revealed his attendance at a tackle clinic and a referee seminar to help impart their understanding of the rules on his players.

READ MORE: Avonvale 21-23 Weymouth & Portland - report

However, in Weymouth & Portland’s first game of the new season at Avonvale they received two yellow cards and one red card as a result of the new laws.

The rules were further debated in the ongoing World Cup, where England’s Tom Curry was dismissed after four minutes for a head-on-head collision with Argentina’s Juan Cruz Mallia.

Having his say on the new rules at grassroots level, Bament told Echosport: “I don’t envy being a referee this season.

“There was a different interpretation to what we’ve been told. I’ve been to a Dorset & Wilts RFU tackle clinic and had a referee talk to myself and the team.

“However, there are aspects and certain things we were allowed to do and given the go-ahead to do that were outlawed completely (against Avonvale).

“It’s going to be very hard for the referees. They were a Somerset society and we’re Dorset & Wilts, so there will be different interpretations.

“I think that will lead to frustrations among the players but also make the referee’s job a lot harder.

“I would hope it’s one of those that as the players and referees get used to it, that it levels itself out.

“It’s a big thing for rugby players who’ve been around the block a long time to change their tackle techniques.

“Some are very good, some not so good. Unfortunately, that’s the way the RFU have gone and the community game are having to deal with it.”

England face Japan in their second Pool D game tomorrow (8pm), while Weymouth & Portland visit Royal Wootton Bassett Seconds this afternoon.