by Mark Hopkins

Created on: March 06, 2009   Last Updated: March 07, 2009

It has been said of Rugby that it is 'a game played by hooligans and watched by gentlemen and it is certainly highly physical, much more so than Soccer. Tackling involves bringing down an opposing player and can be done in numerous ways, some of which are more effective than others and a few of which are illegal, incurring a penalty.

When tackling from behind or from the side, the ideal is to impact the opponent at or below the knees with a shoulder, with arms extended to lock around the legs. The momentum will bring down even the fastest, heaviest opponent. Gripping around the waist or torso is not illegal but is far less effective. Such a tackle may well be broken by the opponent's strength or momentum, as any impact is above his center of gravity. It also exposes the would be tackler to the hand-off, an arm or hand thrust vigorously into the tackler's face as he approaches. This can be very disconcerting!

It often happens that a tackle has to be delivered from the front, either directly or at an oblique angle. Here, it is wise to assess the size of the opponent. Halting the onrushing Scrum Half, who will tend to be relatively small and nimble, requires a different approach than halting the rampaging Lock, built like a brick out-house and dreaming of glory as he approaches the touch line. Keeping balanced, with the ability to respond to twists, turns and side steps up to the last moment of contact, the ideal is to tackle as low down as possible. Again, this is so as to act below the center of gravity, causing the opponent to fall. A fast and nimble opponent is best tacked head on because if he passes the tackler he will be hard to catch from behind. A massive Forward may, however, simply flatten his opponent if taken face on. He will be less fast and agile as a rule (though there are exceptions, such as New Zealand's stupendous Jonah Lomu of a few years back) and is best stopped by a tackle delivered from the side or back, low down around the legs.

At all levels of the game, tackles around the higher torso and shoulders are seen. While such a contact with an opponent may slow him, allowing more players to close in and bring him down, it allows time for the ball to be passed more advantageously by the opponent and draws defenders out of position. It is well nigh impossible for a shoulder height tackle to bring an opponent down, breaking his team's forward momentum. Shoulder height tackles also risk ending up around the opponent's neck by mistake. This is highly dangerous and illegal play which has caused more than a few broken necks and put the paralyzed victims in wheelchairs. It is rightly outlawed and incurs severe penalty if done on the field. Tripping is also illegal tackling.

Rugby is a tremendous game requiring speed, stamina, agility, strength and courage. Its players do not wear body protection like American Footballers do. Tackling is a key aspect of the game, and the half hearted are ruthlessly exposed. Well executed tackles prove the old maxim, however, that 'the bigger they are, the harder they fall'.

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