How to make rugby tackle

Learning how to properly tackle an opponent during a rugby game is far different from
tackling in a football game. The way football players are taught to tackle they require a
great deal of equipment and still end up suffering from injuries. There is an easier and
more effective way to tackle using your strength and wearing little to no equipment to do
so. This is one of the most important techniques you can learn as a new rugby player and
one that must be mastered before you get out there to play your first game.

In rugby, tackling is only used to stop a player who has the ball. Tackling is not done just
for entertainment; this is not the way of the sport. Let's go through the steps to make
the perfect rugby tackle:

 Make sure to bend over as you approach your opponent and aim your shoulders
towards their mid-section or hip area
 Make sure your head is positioned to go behind the target when you tackle to
avoid concussion or worse
 Keeping your feet firmly on the ground, push forward with all your strength from
your legs, not your upper body
 You will find if you did the first few steps properly that your arms should be above
the knees of your opponent; squeeze tight
 Once the contact has been made, continue forward with the momentum of your
strength to make the tackle complete
 The key is to roll away from the tackle as soon as you can so you can get back in
the game to take advantage of the opportunity you have just created with your
tackle

When it is laid out step-by-step like this it can seem like a complicated process, think of
it like this go low and hard. These few words manage to sum up this entire process and
can help you remember on the field the basics of tackling so you don't get hurt for any
reason. Only full commitment to your tackle can really help you avoid injury. The second
you hesitate you can be sure that your opponent will not hesitate and you will get run
over.

What is known as the dividing tackle is basically the same as what is outlined for you
above but instead of trying to dive towards the other player you simply get to their next
position before they do. Eventually, with the standard method of tackling you are going
to dive and miss the person and before this happens, try the dividing tackle. This type of
tackle is only for those who have thoroughly mastered the basics of tackling and are
ready to move on to the next step.

As you can now see there is a big difference between a football tackle and a rugby tackle.
Any player who goes into a rugby game using techniques and methods from football will
find themselves out of the game with severe injuries before the first 10 minutes is over.
Never assume that tackling is the same from sport to sport this can create personal
safety injuries for yourself.
Basic rugby rules

Know the basic rugby rules and enjoy rugby. Be

confident. Know what's happening. Get into it. Easily find all
details of the rugby rules when you want to. Improve your
game.

Answers questions like…

 What must I know for basic rugby knowledge

 What are the rules in a rugby match
 Where can I find basic rules of rugby

 What are the easy rules of rugby

 Where do they list rugby rules
 what rules apply to the rugby sidestep

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Who controls the rules of rugby?

What are the basic rules?
1. Rugby field
2. Rugby ball
3. Number of players
4. Player clothing
5. Time
6. Match officials
7. Mode of play
8. Advantage
9. Rugby tries and goals
10. Foul play
11. Offside and onside in general play
12. Knock on or throw forward
13. Kick off and restart kicks
14. Ball on the ground - no tackle
15. Rugby tackle
16. Rugby ruck
17. Rugby maul
18. Rugby mark
19. Touch and lineout
20. Scrum
21. Penalty and free kicks
22. In-goal area
23. Sidestep
U19, 7s, referee signals
Should I know all the rules?
What next?

Who controls the rules of rugby?

The International Rugby Board (IRB) controls rugby and how
it's played.
They control the "Laws  of the Game - Rugby Union"
These rules tell us how to play.

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What are the basic rugby rules?

Some rules are simple and necessary and easy to include.

Some rules are necessary to know but very complex and

technical. So it's best to include just the most important parts
of them when getting together basic rugby rules.

On this page get to know the basics.

For some rules the basics are just a few words.
Where there is a link, click to get what you need to know.
For full details of rugby rules, follow the links to the IRB
Laws.

There are no rules which specifically mention the rugby

sidestep.
Sidesteps are simply a special way you move the ball towards
the opposition goal-line when you are carrying the ball.

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1 The rugby field 

Lines everywhere!  Some solid, some dashed.

What do they all mean and which are most important? 

Get to know more 

   about the basic rugby rules
   by learning about the field,
   also known as the rugby pitch.

In case you don't already know,

    text in a  different colour
    and underlined  is a link
    to another page.
Click  on these links and you
    get more information

Look at the field.

It's a great place to start
   your basic rugby rules.

Easy, step by step, know the rugby field. 

Official IRB 1 (IRB Site)
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2 The rugby ball

That's a bit of a wierd shape for a ball!

Get to know your rugby ball and control it.

Know all about the rugby ball.   Official IRB 2

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3 The Number of Players

One of the simple basic rugby rules - maximum of 15 on each

side. Substitutes are allowed. Official IRB 3

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4 Players Clothing

Rugby gear is shirt, shorts, underwear, socks and boots! -

talk to current players for advice on kit - especially
boots. Some minimal padding is allowed. Official IRB 4

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5 Time

Two 40 minute halves, maximum of 10 minutes half-time

break. Use any existing weather conditions, they may
change. Official IRB 5

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6 Match Officials

Referee and two touch judges. Being a match official is not

easy, officials provide a great service and deserve support.
Official IRB 6

Very important in basic rugby rules, always remember 

   the spirit of the rules of rugby...

 We all make mistakes

 What we think we saw/heard is sometimes not what
really happened
 Just like you, the Match officials are doing their best
 Play to the whistle; it may be your advantage. 

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7 Mode of Play

Players run all over the place! What's going on? 

The ball is kicked to start the game. 

You then carry, throw, kick or give the ball, usually but not
necessarily to other players in your team. 

When you are the ball carrier you may carry the ball in any
direction.
Your team wants to get the ball onto or over the opposition
goal-line.

You may pass throw or give the ball to another player only if
the ball does not travel forward of your position on the field.

You may kick the ball in any direction.

The objective is to ground the ball in the in goal area of the

opposition. When you sidestep you will evade opponents
when you carry the ball.Official IRB 7

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8 Advantage

What's going on! They just broke the basic rugby rules, but
the referee ignored it!  
Know the rule of advantage. Official IRB 8

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9 Rugby Tries and goals

Why have this team got more points than that one? Why are
they trying so hard to get over that line? 

Important in basic rugby rules.

Know about rugby tries and goals. Official IRB 9

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10 Foul Play

Foul play is doing anything in the game which is against the

rules of rugby or the spirit of the rules. 
It includes 

 obstructing opponents
 punching, trampling, kicking or tripping players
 tackling too early, too late, above the shoulders
 tackling a player when they are in the air
 doing anything which is unfair or dangerous. 

Official IRB 10

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11 Offside and Onside in General Play

That player is right where the ball is. Why don't they pick it
up?

It may be because they are offside. 

This is important in the basic rules of rugby. If they picked up
the ball they would give away a penalty.
Here's a basic rule of thumb. Make sure the ball and the
player in your team who last played the ball are between you
and the opposition goal line. If not, avoid becoming involved
in play. Official IRB 11

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12 Knock on or Throw forward

They want to get to the other end don't they? Why do they
keep thowing it backwards! It's because a pass "forward" is
not permitted. 

Pass straight across the field...Yes, OK

Pass backwards towards own goal-line...Yes, OK
Pass forwards towards opposition goal-line... NO, not
permitted!

The hands and any movement must direct the ball backwards
(or level). Because of the speed of the player passing the
ball, it is possible (and permitted) that the ball travels
forward from the point where the ball is released. Official IRB
12

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13 Kick off and restart kicks

These kicks are taken when the game starts, when the game
is resumed after half time and after each occasion points are
scored. Kicks are taken from the centre of the half way line
and must travel at least 10 metres. Official IRB 13
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14 Ball on ground - No Tackle

 Know about ball on ground - no tackle. Official IRB 14

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15 Rugby Tackle: Ball Carrier Brought to the Ground

 Know the rugby tackle. Official IRB 15

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16 Rugby Ruck

The ball is right there on the ground, Shouln't they pick it up?
Know the rugby ruck. Official IRB 16

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17 Rugby Maul
They're all grappling for the ball. What's going on!
Know the rugby maul. Official IRB 17

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18 Rugby Mark

They just caught the ball, and shouted "Mark". Then

everything stopped. What's happening? Know the rugby
mark. Official IRB 18

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19 Touch and lineout 

When the ball goes "into touch" the game is restarted with a
line out. The ball is thrown into play between two opposing
lines of players.
Official IRB 19

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20 Scrum

Following some infringments of the rules play is restarted

with a scrum.Eight players from each time bind together in
their own 3-4-1 formation in a crouching position. The two
formations then engage each other head on to form a single
mass off 16 players. The ball is then put into the gap
between the opposing formations and each team attempts to
get control of the ball with their feet.  Official IRB 20

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21 Penalty and free kicks

Depending on the seriousness of the offence, teams may be

awarded a penalty or a free kick when the other team
infringes the rules. In the case of penalties, a kicker may
elect to take a place kick at the goal posts. If the ball goes
over the cross-bar points are awarded. Official IRB 21

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22 In goal

This is important in terms of basic rugby rules. Grounding

the ball in the opposition in goal area  results in points being
awarded because this is how you score rugby tries.
Grounding the ball in your own in goal area makes the ball
dead and play will be restarted. Official IRB 22

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23 Learn to sidestep

Probably the most important rule of all.

Nah...just kidding!

It's not a rule at all...but it should be.

You'll enjoy rugby anyway
   but you'll have much more fun
   when you learn to sidestep
   is the question
   now is the answer.
It's a good time to find out more about rugby sidesteps
   so you can always be thinking about them
   and how you will be good when you learn with Evtechs

Make this one of your basic rugby rules!

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U19, 7s, referee signals, other languages ?

The IRB's website has downloads for all the rules.
They're very detailed. They have to be.

The rules downloads are large!

Links for all the rules are given.

You can see variations of the basic rugby rules for...

...U19 rugby rules...

...7s rugby rules...

...and find out about referee signals.

If your first language is not English

   you can read the rugby rules in other languages.
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Should I know all the rules?

It's good to know the basic rugby rules....but.....
There's no substitute for knowing all the rules of rugby! 

Now you've got the essentials, let them sink in.

Then you can take in more of the details of rugby rules.

The more you know, the more confident you'll be that

you're playing correctly. It's important to avoid giving
away penalties.

Fair play is one of the basic rugby rules Principles of the

Game andPrinciples of the Laws are well worth
reading.They're part of a hugedocument. Download it when
you have plenty of time and plenty of disk space! It's the
official IRB Law book. 

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Now you know the basics

   have a look at some of the skills
   or how to play
   or find out more about positions...

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