The World Rugby Executive Council has recommended introducing a lower tackle height to sternum level in community rugby, following 18 months of trials by eleven unions. Data analyzing nearly 150,000 tackles showed a significant reduction (8-10%) in upright high-risk contacts, with some unions reporting fewer concussions. The proposal, based on observed behavioral shifts including fewer high contacts (6% in men's, 9% in women's) and more knee/leg tackles, could become law by July 1, 2026. This initiative, launched in 2024 with closed trials, aims to enhance player safety by adapting techniques, drawing on experience from elite rugby and contributions from France. World Rugby's Director of Player Welfare and Rugby Services, Mark Harrington, emphasized the collaborative effort of unions, clubs, referees, and players in prioritizing welfare.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is considering new eligibility rules that may exclude transgender women and athletes with Differences of Sex Development from women's events. This follows a scientific review on competitive fairness, potentially finalized early next year. The IOC's current guidance allows transgender women to compete under testosterone limits, but this could change. Several international federations already have restrictions. The decision may impact the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. No final decision has been made.

World Rugby General Assembly highlighted the growth of women's rugby, with Rugby Africa President Herbert Mensah emphasizing gender equality for growth and excellence. The Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 set attendance records with 444,465 tickets sold and 81,885 fans at the final. World Rugby also unveiled a new five-year Strategic Plan focusing on iconic events, impactful investment, and strong leadership.

The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) has launched a confidential reporting channel to enhance sports integrity and safety, allowing anonymous reporting of misconduct such as corruption, harassment, doping, and match manipulation. Reports are managed by an external platform and independent experts before reaching the ITTF Integrity Unit, ensuring impartiality and whistleblower protection. This initiative aligns ITTF with other federations like FIFA, World Athletics, World Rugby, IIHF and the IOC, who have seen success with similar systems, though challenges remain in transparency and follow-up.

World Rugby CEO Alan Gilpin emphasizes the success of women's sports competitions, highlighting the Women’s Rugby World Cup in England, 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, recent Women’s Euro in Switzerland, and 2022 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Sydney, noting high attendance, safe environments, and positive player-fan relationships. Gilpin believes that men's rugby should adopt similar strategies for fan engagement, and World Rugby will share data from the Women’s Rugby World Cup to encourage teams to connect with fans before the men’s 2027 World Cup in Australia. AI is used to combat online abuse during the tournament. The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup had almost 2 million spectators, while the 2022 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup had over 145,000 fans.