There are many types of tackle in rugby union and it is important that the techniques are performed correctly in order to effectively stop the ball carrier but also to prevent injury. There are three main types of tackle from behind which all players should learn.
Rugby players can and should make tackles from behind. However, the number of tackles performed from behind is considerably lower than head on, and side on tackles. Scrum halves, wingers and fullbacks are most likely to be tackling players from behind.
Let’s take a look at how to perform the different tackles from behind and some of the most famous as well.
How do you tackle from behind?
- The standard tackle from behind
The first and most common tackle from behind is when the tackler targets the waist. The leading shoulder needs to make contact with the buttocks and the arms ideally need to wrap around the top of the thighs. The head should rest neatly to one side of the buttocks, how lovely.
As you prepare for the tackle, you may wish to target the lower back area as you dive as it is likely that because the ball carrier is moving away from you that you will inevitably end up making contact lower down.
This position may be achieved by chasing down and diving towards the ball carrier often at full stretch and at full speed. Once the arms are wrapped they should squeeze the legs together and drop slightly down the thighs maintaining a solid wrap which will ultimately stop the player from running and bring them to the ground.
If squeezing the arms together does not bring them down then make sure you get your full body weight on top of their body and this will often finish the job.
Incidentally, you may wish to read about the 8 main types of rugby tackle right here also.
2. The smoother and roll
The second most common tackle from behind is when the ball carrier is approaching the try line and is likely to score if the tackler simply tackles the legs. In this scenario, the tackler needs to follow the same procedure but wrap their arms just under the ball carrier’s arms trying to get the hands covering the ball.
The tackler should allow their body weight to bring the player down after making contact with their shoulder but as the tackled player falls the tackler needs to pivot to one side by shifting body weight and maintaining a firm grasp of the player so that the tackler lands on their back and the tackled player lands on top of them on their back which will prevent a try being scored.
Whilst this is tough to pull off if you can get the technique right you have a real chance of preventing a try.
3. The tap tackle
The third and final type of tackle from behind is the tap tackle. When a player has broken through the line and the defenders cannot make up enough ground to make a standard tickle from behind then the only option is the tap tackle.
The tap tackler requires the tackler to dive full stretch one handed in a superman type style towards the ankles of the attacker. Note that the head should always be looking upwards and higher than the lower back otherwise you are risking a comical face plant!
The idea is to slap either of the heels so that they knock against the other foot and cause the player to stumble and fall. If a slap is not possible then pulling an ankle upwards or pushing it downwards will also do the job. As the attacker is usually moving at top speed they are significantly impacted by any contact on the feet.
An amazing number of breakaway tries have been prevented in this manner and it is very frustrating when it happens to you, just as you thought you were in under the posts you are instantaneously brought to the ground.
The tap tackle can be pretty spectacular to watch and is a real crowd pleaser. Getting the timing right is important though so don’t just go lunging at the ankles; you may wish to run at the same speed as the player for a few strides whilst you compose yourself and go for the tap when you judge the feet are crossing and therefore most vulnerable to this approach.
I’ve also written a 4 Step Home Improvement Guide To Tackling which you might like to read also.
Famous Tap Tackles
Peter Stringer showed how a tiny rugby player could still make such an impact through the astute use of the tap tackle technique. He was renowned for his tap tackles no more so than his efforts to bring down Jason Robinson in his prime at Twickenham in 2004 when a try looked assured.
Another famous tap tackle was Geoff Parling on Jesse Mog in the 2013 Lions vs Australia fixture. Jesse Mog was flying through centre field when Parling pulled off a fanastic tap tackled with one swipe of his arm.
Even the late great Jonah Lomu was shown to be vulnerable to the tap tackle when Rassie Erasmus brought him down at full speed in 2000. He managed to knock one foot against the other bringing the big man to his knees.
Enjoy a few of those tap tackles in the video below:
As far as avoiding tap tackles goes you have first got to be aware of the presence of a chaser behind you and then you have to got be mindful of the timing of their steps and any dive they may make towards your ankles and then throw in a hitch kick when the tackler makes their move.
Sometimes swerving one way then the other is enough to put the tackled out of sink with you and then miss time their attempts also. If you are about to be tap tackled then be aware that your impact with the ground may dislodge the ball and cause a knock on unless you are braced for it.
In conclusion, due to field positioning, full backs, wingers and scrum halves will find themselves making tackles from behind the most but everyone on the pitch needs to be prepared to chase back and make a tackle multiple times per game.
You might also enjoy our concise guide to the basic rules of rugby if you wish to brush up on your knowledge of the rules of the game.
Photo Credits:
Featured image – 3 December 2011, Stadium. Match between: Stade toulousain ‒ RC Toulon. Léna, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Photo 2: Saracens’ Richard Wigglesworth, Guillaume Boussès and Chris Ashton Clément Bucco-Lechat, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
