Rugby Union is one of the most popular games in the World, the fast pace and end to end nature of the game have seen it grow in popularity outside its traditional homes in Europe, the continent of Australia and South Africa. Beginning in the UK at Rugby school, the game has evolved over the years to include a number of skills that must be learned if an individual wishes to play the game successfully and remain safe as they do so. One of the most important skills each and every individual should understand is tackling, which must be completed in a way that keeps both players involved in the tackle safe and does not break any laws of the game.
A major mistake many players just embarking on a career in Rugby Union make is that they do not learn to tackle correctly and break the laws of the game, which can result in a player being sent off and a penalty awarded to the opposing team. One major problem is the high tackle, which is classed as any tackle taking place at and above the shoulders of a player. These illegal tackles can often result in a serious injury for the player who is the victim of the tackle and result in lost points for the team of the tackler who completes this illegal tackle.
The laws of the game state the safety of all players is paramount in any game, tackling should be completed in a way that is safe and responsible for all players. For this reason most coaches recommend the use of low tackles that involve a player tackling their opponent around the waist or lower to bring them to the ground safely and within the laws of the game. Once the player is brought to the ground it is important for the tackled player to remember they must release the ball quickly or give away a penalty. This can mean the player passes to a teammate quickly when they are on the ground, always making sure the ball is only moved backwards and not forwards. Most tackled players simply try to place the ball on the ground behind them to allow their own team to continue their forward movements towards the opposition try line.
The most important issue any Rugby Union player faces is the safety aspect of tackling, despite being an important skill this can be a dangerous area of the game. The position of the tacklers head is probably the most important part of the process, which means the individual should always make sure their head is positioned on the opposite side of the player they are tackling than they hope to push them onto. By doing this the player will make sure they do not have the problem of their head being caught between the ground and the falling player. The head should always be positioned to one side of a fast moving player when tackling to avoid the head being struck and a serious head injury being incurred.
