Former England star James Haskell believes that rugby chiefs have “lost the plot” amid confusion over tackling rules. Officials at the Rugby World Cup have faced fierce scrutiny during the early stages of the tournament, following a sequence of contentious decisions.

“I think the people who control rugby have completely lost the plot and they’ve forgotten that rugby is a contact sport,” said Haskell, in association with Pringles. “While efforts should be made to mitigate risks and teach proper tackling techniques, it’s important not to lose sight of the fact that rugby involves physical collisions.

“Attempting to reduce the intensity of contact in rugby is not practical. You wouldn’t ask a boxer or MMA fighter to punch with less force. Balancing safety concerns with the essence of the sport is challenging, but we shouldn’t lose sight of rugby’s core nature.”