Bringing down bigger players

Question
Hi , my name is Roger and I recently started playing rugby. Im doing good and got put on my schools varsity team. Now that I am playing with grade 11's and 12's (im in grade 10) , I am finding it hard to bring down the bigger players. Sometimes I am just being dragged for yards while I hopelessly hold on trying to bring them down.

Answer
Roger,

First off, I apologize for being slow with this.  This week is tax time and I have three rugby games.

Tackling is combination of heart and technique.  If you have great technique, but are timid about closing in on your opponent you will not succeed.  If you have the heart of a lion, but cannot get those arms around the opposing runner, again you will not succeed.

Review of the basics.

1.   When tackling remember to keep your eyes open, head outside, or behind, and wrap the legs tightly.  There is no such penalty as 揾igh tackle?  The proper call is dangerous tackle.  Generally, any tackle over the armpits is considered dangerous.  

2.   All tackles must include the wrap, arms tightly wrapped around the opponent.  

3.   Do not leave your feet when initially making the tackle.  American football players tend to leap into tackles.  This is not good for a rugby tackle.

Tackling techniques

1.   When coming into a tackle, center the tip of your shoulder on your opponent's midsection and have the arms raised, with the elbows out and up.  This will ensure that the head will be on the outside of the tackle and that the shoulder is protected.

2.   Generally when you tackle try to hit the softer parts of the opponent's body such as the torso above the hips or mid-thigh (watch for the knees).  As a smaller player, you should always focus on taking the opponent's legs out from him.  It is true- the bigger they are the harder they fall.

3.   When you come in for the tackle, imagine that you are trying tackle beyond the runner and that you need to go through him.  Often when contact is made, the tackler stops his forward momentum.

4.   Obviously a "head on" tackle at the torso is not always going to be successful if the opponent is larger than you are.  In this situation the best things to consider-
a.   Come from the side
b.   Hit him at the thighs, and close the arms, thus binding the legs.  Hint- when you wrap your arms around the thighs, grab you own wrists and push your arms out.  When you push your arms out, your elbows come together making a tighter bind.
c.   Allow his forward momentum and bound legs to cause him to fall.

5.   Remember that rugby is a possession sport, not a yardage sport like American football.  While everybody likes to see, and honestly, make, the hard stand up tackle, it is not necessary unless you are within a few meters of your try line.  The important thing is to get the runner to ground so that the ball most be released.  That is your best chance to regain possession.  Why this is important for the smaller player is that 搃f you cannot make the tackle, be a speed bump?  Often at youth level, good solid contact can be just as disruptive as a solid tackle, and a good wrap that slows down the runner so that support can complete the tackle or strip the ball can be just as good as a tackle.

6.   I hope this gives you what you a looking for.  Remember it is both heart and technique that makes a good tackle.


Deane Shephard
Youth Coach