How to Rugby Tackle Everyone That Runs at You

Many rugby players at a young age have difficulty coming to grips with tackling strong or fast runners. This guide will detail everything you need to know to help bring down the biggest guy in their team.

Steps
1. Learn Tackle 1: You have formed defensive line, and the ball has just come out of the ruck - you have two options. o o Look and follow the ball, but make sure that you stay opposite your man Keep your eyes solely on the man that you are intending to tackle.

2. Depending on the situation, you have to make your own mind up. 3. We now come to the contact situation. o o o When you first go into contact, the first thing you want to do is hit with your shoulder. This can be difficult for tall people that are tackling smaller people. But if you imagine that there is a circle around every player, you must put your foot into their circle before you make the tackle. If you don't, then the tackle that you make won't be very strong and chances are, the person that you are trying to tackle, gets away. The first point of contact should be your shoulder. If you are tackling a fast person, then you should make a hard effort to get into their circle. When making first contact, you make the tackle with the same shoulder as the foot you put in their circle e.g., right foot, right shoulder. And after you make the tackle, you should do a motion with your legs called, leg drive. This means that as soon as you make the tackle, you keep your legs moving as if you are running flat out. This will hopefully allow you to win the contact situation.

4. Decide where to tackle. You should aim to hit the person around the stomach area with your shoulder and follow through with leg drive. This is really important as if you tackle to high - high tackle - penalty - possible yellow or red card. If you tackle to low then you risk getting a knee to the face. This isn't good either. 5. Dump Tackle. You should do exactly the same before contact "run up" as you do in the normal tackle, except that when you make contact you still lead with your shoulder, you still hit the stomach area, but after the initial hit, you pick up the players legs and lift to the side. Watch pro rugby players for actual dump tackles. The only advice I can give you for doing this kind of tackle is, be careful that you don't drop the person on their neck or head as this could result in them getting SERIOUSLY injured and/or you being sent off. You want to AVOID this at all costs so, I recommend doing a dump tackle if the person is running near to or straight at you. 6. Tap Tackle. When you are chasing someone, and they are to far in front for you to make a real hit on them, you can attempt a tap tackle. It sounds exactly like what it is. You dive for their feet in an attempt to tap their ankles and bring them down or make them trip. This should be used as a last resort at bringing someone down. Don't cower out of a tackle and then chase and do a tap tackle for two reasons.

You will look like a coward for letting them through, and you will find it harder to tap tackle than normal tackle.

Tips
Always make sure you are in the right body position to tackle. Straight back and shoulders ready for the impact. Tackle upwards. Don't tackle towards the ground. Hit the person in the stomach area. Be a clean player. You wont get penalized if you do things legally rather than risk high tackling and get sent off or injure someone. LEG DRIVE Don't be afraid of tackling. It hurts more if you do it wrong. Tackle as hard as you can and you will feel better for it. Enjoy your rugby and play hard. Wear shoulder pads. It helps you tackle harder and protects you.

Warnings
Always be careful when dump tackling. Serious consequences can happen if you dump tackle wrongly

How to Play Rugby

Hi. This is how you play rugby. When you're done, it will give a whole new meaning of having the world at your feet.

Steps
1. Understand that rugby matches are 80 minutes long, and you're running during most of it. Get in good running shape. 2. Warm up and stretch properly so you don't get injured 3. Realize that rugby is not a stop start game with not a lot of breaks, work on your endurance. 4. Note that in rugby there are two main positions; backs and forwards, the backs need to be fast agile and quick thinkers, forwards need to be be strong, heavy(ish) and fit:).Find which one you fit into. 5. Try to develop your ball in hand skills i.e. passing and catching because the modern game is all about passing, the ball is faster than you so let the ball do the work. Dropping the ball can immediately stop a formerly successful play, so make sure you have the skills not to fumble the ball. 6. Learn That Haka as you will have to perform it before each game.(Optional) 7. Learn the game. Pick up a book that outlines the laws such as "Rugby for Dummies" and don't be afraid to ask your team mates questions...even if the questions seem silly or stupid to you.. 8. Get a good rugby coach that knows how to teach tackling properly. American football coaches got it all wrong. You don't need pads to tackle or be tackled. 9. Don't be afraid! Get stuck in, players that are not fully committed to a tackle are the ones that come out with the injuries. 10. Never argue with a rugby referee. Referees for this sport are treated with respect unlike the all the other sports you see on TV. Address the ref as "Sir" or "Ma'am". 11. Have good camaraderie and respect for your fellow team-mates and opponents.

Tips
If you prefer a simpler version of Rugby, try Rugby league, this was also created in England and is a tough contact sport, try researching teams from the super league and the NRL. It is more stopstart than Rugby Union, as play pauses every time the ball carrier is tackled. Learn at least two rugby songs.

Don't get discouraged by the fact that in America the game is not televised. once you've played a game with a team in your local area, you will be hooked. being on B-side, or the secondary group of players is never a bad thing. this game, usually played after the main game (A-side), is a lot more relaxed, allowing you to learn the game. the ref will usually allow coaches to come onto the play field, and answer questions from any player. Try the USA Rugby website listed below for a list of registered teams in your area. There are teams of all levels registered with USA Rugby, from high school through to masters teams (usually 40+, though this changes from region to region).

Warnings
Don't let your rugby team have a drinking problem. Don't allow yourself to get into the mentality that this game is all about hurting the other guy. Injuries happen. Training helps prevent injuries, so continue to run, and weight train during the off season...preferably with your team mates. Learning how to tackle (and be tackled) properly will also help prevent injuries and have courage, remember the player who is not committed to the tackle comes out with the injury. Many of the laws of rugby exist to prevent injuries (no forward passes, offsides law, etc). Learn them. Live them. Love them. And you will stay safe.

Things You'll Need

Ball Boots shorts Commitment jersey CIPP fee money Tournament fee money Beer Money Club/team dues Mouth-guard (keep that smile) a cup (keeps the good things safe)if your a guy

How to Condition for Rugby

Rugby is an amazing sport requiring a variety of knowledge, skill, and conditioning. This is a general overview of how to start preparing for the "heathen sport played by gentlemen".

Steps
1. Research everything you can about the position you wish to play. Most positions have specific body types the fit them. Example - if you're tall and wide you'll play a second row, short and stocky you'll be a prop, small and fast you'd play a back position. Figure out what you'd be playing and tailor your conditioning to that position. 2. Run! This is one of the best things you can do - no matter what your place on the field. The thing that distinguishes Rugby from American football is everyone goes non-stop, almost like soccer (but worse because everyone except the full back is moving with the ball all the time). Even if you're a prop or a second row you'll still need to be running so you can make tackles. Running is probably the single best way to improve your game. 3. Do up/downs. What are up downs you say? They're like squat thrusts. They are useful because you are constantly getting hit in Rugby, or hitting someone else, and you need to get up quickly. You'll also need to dive on the ball, tackle, and generally haul your weight around. Make sure you're pushing yourself beyond the point where you think you can't do any more; by the end of a game you are so tired you can't move your little finger, but you have to keep going. Up/downs show you how conditioned you really are.There are 2 ways to approach up/downs: o As a team: Everyone lines up on the field (I prefer to do them in an exploded scrum formation) and the coach blows the whistle. On the sound the team gets onto the ground as fast as they can - face down. On the next blast everyone gets up as fast as they can. Repeat. This should start out slow, giving time to get up and down, and increase in intensity until it is constant. Do it solo/in a small group: just get you your butt up and down as fast as you can and as long as you can.

4. Start lifting weights. Go to the gym and get someone on your team to show you a lifting routine and then make yourself do it. Pack players should be looking to increase muscle mass, while backs should be looking to increase tone. Tailor your routine accordingly. Be sure to have someone spot for you while lifting weights.

Tips
Get good running shoes. Your rugby boots are not made for training in and it will make all the difference in the world. Train with a friend and teammate - it'll make you work harder and your workout more fun. Make yourself a rugby workout playlist - it'll keep you pepped and focused.

Warnings
Make sure you check form for lifting and running. You can hurt yourself if you don't do it right. Start slow - you don't want to hurt yourself by blasting out to hard and burning yourself out. Something important you need to know about Rugby - everyone thinks that it's so dangerous...rugby is only dangerous when someone on the field doesn't know what they're doing and most of the time that person ends up hurting someone else. Make sure you are trained in the RIGHT way to tackle, scrum, ruck, and lift. If you don't know, tell your ref so they can help you. Remember, you only want to cream the other team on the field, you don't want to maim them for life and send them home in an ambulance...or a hearse! Never ever, receive a hospital pass (i.e. a pass over your chest) from your teammates.As this will give your opponents all the space in the world to tackle you.

Things You'll Need

Rugby boots Mouthguard (a must for any drills with teammates) Running shoes Whistle (optional) Willingness to work your butt off! Clothes(!)

How to Make Big Hits on the Rugby Field

Making big hits on the rugby field is a key part of the game. It can cause turnoverball, force a knock on and most of all it demoralises your opponents.This vital element of your game can easily be mastered and can be critical when used correctly.

Steps
1. Build up your base level of strength. Resistance training and gym work are vital. Not only defensively but for rugby in general, use your 4 key exercises:bench press, incline bench press, squats (be careful with squats, they can damage your knees and back and slow you down) and deadlifts. Don't forget core and speed work though, rugby is not American football, stamina and fitness are vital. 2. Get low. A good low body position is key. Practice getting low, despite position, anyone can work on the scrum machine. It is a fantastic device for not only props, but all team members, improving tackling and rucking alike. 3. Work on your tackling. Practice makes perfect. Outside training and during the off-season, get some friends together, a work. Simple drills, with tackle bags and one on ones work a treat. 4. Aim. For the tackle, try to aim your shoulder into the chest of the man you are tackling. Lift both his legs from behind the knees and drive through it your legs, perfect.

Tips
Get low: it cannot be over-emphasised - a low body position is one of the most valuable assets any rugby player can have.

Warnings
Be careful when you use the dump tackle; if there is an overlap, and you dump your man, instead of wrapping him or covering back an offload and a try may be imminent.

How to Kick for Goal (Rugby)

Goal kicking is one of the most important aspects of rugby as games nowadays are decided by penalty goals and conversions. A good goal kicker can usually be guaranteed a berth on the team.

Steps
1. Warm-Up. It is very easy to strain ligaments in your leg while goal kicking so being warmed up and stretched is essential. 2. Place the ball on a tee. There are numerous types of tees available and you can even use a mound of sand but ideally you want the ball leaning slightly forward, to expose the sweetspot, with a seam pointed at your target.Aim to just to the right of the posts. Point your non kicking leg to the middle of the posts. 3. Step away from the ball preparing your run up. This is all about personal preference. I tend to take 3 long steps backwards, look at the goal to make sure I'm lined up correctly and then take 2 long steps to the right (as I'm a left footer). However if you prefer a different style that's fine, do whatever works for YOU. 4. Focus your energy into your kicking leg. You can do this lots of ways such as swinging your arms or clapping your hands together. 5. Begin your run up to the ball. As you approach the ball try to plant your non-kicking foot as close to the the tee as you can. 6. Shift your weight onto your non-kicking foot, and allow your kicking leg to swing through striking the ball 7. Strike the ball with your instep on the sweet spot of the ball. The sweetspot is located about 1/3 up the ball. 8. Follow through with your foot for maximum height and distance.

Tips
Watch good goal kickers like Jonney Wilkinson and Dan Carter as they have very good technique and will show you some things you may not understand in this guide. Practice as often as you can as this is the only way to get better at goal kicking. Mental exercises are useful when goal kicking such as: Imagining a big mouth in between the posts taunting you Concentrating on something in between the posts like a man in the stand

Warnings
Wear thick socks under your boots when practicing or else you can wear down the skin on your foot.

How to Keep Rugby Safe

With modifications of rules and skills , the rugby game can be played at a safe level .

Steps
1. Keep the game non contact by playing with rip flag tags 2. Change the rules of the game by modifying the type of ball and the number of tries for a score 3. Keep the game aligned with other sports like soccer and flag football

Tips
The ball must never be passed forward Stay on sides at all times After every rip tag have a roll ball or a free lateral pass Start the game with a drop kick or punt Practice fakes and feints to "juke" the defense out of position Try to maintain a straight line while passing and create spaces or gaps in the defense The defense must close those gaps

Warnings
Watch for body contact , keep it a non contact activity Maintain safety and rules of the game

Things You'll Need

Rugby ball or football according to age and skill level Rip tags Cones or pylons Jersey , shorts , athletic socks and sneakers Protective eye wear Safe paddding , shin guards , mouth guards

How to Dump Tackle in Rugby

Hitting Hard in Rugby: The Dump Tackle What you need to know: Tackling is a key element in the game of rugby. Tackling your opponent effectively can result in an important play for your team such as making a try, turning over the ball, or causing a knock on. Just as important, tackling effectively aids in earning respect from your opposition. Rugby is a possession sport, unlike American football, which is played for yardage. The key point is to get the runner to the ground so that the ball must be released from their possession. While tackling is a general part of play, dump tackling is a very extreme technique and should be used especially in situations when: your opponent is running very near to you your opponent is running straight at you

Steps

Mental Preparation
1. Commit to the hit. Commitment is 90% of a proper and successful tackle. You have to have intent and confidence. Serious injury can occur if commitment is lacking, not only on your body but also on your ego. 2. Look and track the ball. While doing this keep in mind who and where your mark is. Visualize their future move. 3. Imagine a circle around the player you are going to tackle. You MUST put your foot in this circle before tackling to ensure proper body position.

Initializing Contact
1. Run toward your opponent at pace and have low body position, bending at the knees. A low body position ensures a hard hit and excellent center of gravity. High tackles equal penalties from the referee. 2. As your driving foot steps into your opponents circle, center the tip of your shoulder on your opponents midsection. Make sure you use the shoulder on the same side as your driving foot. i.e. right foot/right shoulder. 3. Keep your arms raised, elbows out, and your head on the outside of the tackle. 4. Run through the tackle with streaming forward momentum. Your tackle should NOT stop at contact. 5. Using your momentum, wrap your arms around the ball carriers thighs and drive forward and upward, lifting the opponent a short distance off of the ground and to the side. 6. Forcibly drive your wrapped opponent to the ground with you, landing them on the flat of their back. 7. Quickly stand up and be ready for the next play. Feel the rush of a great tackle.

Warnings
SAFETY FIRST: Please see [IRB][1] rules and regulations for details. In order for this tackle to be legal, YOU MUST follow through to the ground with your opponent. Not falling to the ground with your opponent is an illegal dump tackle. Your opponents head, neck, and/or upper body MUST NOT come into contact with the ground first or the tackle is considered illegal. Serious injury may result.

Things You'll Need

A mouth guard is a must. A mouth guard greatly reduces the chances of a concussion by stopping your teeth from smashing into each other and rattling your skull. And we can't forget about protecting those pearly whites. Playing rugby without a guard will surely result in high dentistry bills and possibly worse. Boots (cleats) must be worn on the pitch to allow for adequate grip and changing direction.

How to Do Rugby Tackling Drills

These are some great tackling drills for the warmup

Steps
1. Get matched up with someone your size. Then the tackler goes back about 3 meters. The defender runs at him and the tackler's job is to stay still and stop the runner IN HIS TRACKS. 2. Stand about a meter away from each other and then one player dive tackles the other. then switch around. 3. Get a group of four people and no.1 gets tackled by the tackler no.2 & 3 bind together and go over the rucked ball, then no.4 passes the ball off. 4. Dump tackles; get your arms wrapped around their THIGHS and lift both of their legs up in the air a small bit sideways and then drive down. 5. Shoulder barge; run about 10 meters then turn and drop your shoulder a it then charge through your partner

Tips
Don't do the barge too hard in training or the dump tackle. but in the match try to hurt some peeps!

Warnings
If you tackle dangerously, you could end up hurt.