Sports After Dark

Aw Ref #2 - The Tackle

Posted by Hamish McBrearty on July 9th, 2007

This week’s “Aw Ref” focuses on one of rugby union’s most contentious, yet unique areas: the tackle.

A tackle is defined by Law 15 as: “A tackle occurs when the ball carrier is held by one or more opponents and is brought to ground.” It then further defines the phrase “brought to ground” in Law 15.3 as: “If the ball carrier has one knee or both knees on the ground, that player has been ‘brought to ground’.”

Almost every rugby fan understands what a tackle is, the contentious area is what players involved in a tackle must do, and when exactly does a tackle become a ruck?

As far as the law is concerned there are three types of players at every tackle, the tackled player, the tackler or tacklers and other players, each of these three types of players have very different requirements.

Firstly the tackled player, “A tackled player must immediately pass the ball or release it. That player must also get up or move away from it at once.” This law hinges almost entirely on how referees interpret the word “immediately”. Referees realize that to release the ball as soon as the player is brought to ground is unrealistic, and they also realize that there are some situations where the tackled player simply cannot release the ball immediately, such as when the tackle has fallen over the ball.

Instead referees rule “immediately” based on the actions of the tackler and arriving players. If an arriving player attempts to claim the ball legally and fails, a penalty against the tackled player almost always follows. Likewise if the team in possession is trying to recycle the ball quickly and it is not available immediately, a penalty is likely to go against the tackler.

The tackler’s requirements are similar to that of the tackled player, “When a player tackles an opponent and they both go to ground, the tackler must immediately release the tackled player.” and, “The tackler must immediately get up or move away from the tackled player and from the ball at once.” Again, some leniency is given by referees to tacklers who find themselves physically unable to move away from the ball, usually ruling that the ball is unplayable to protect players on the ground.

The tackler’s final requirement, “The tackler must get up before playing the ball,” is not always rigorously enforced. This is due to the split second timing that players such as Ritchie McCaw and George Smith have mastered, springing to their feet after making a tackle and attempting to win the ball. As most players get to their feet and reach for the ball at the same time, provided there is no obvious infringement, most referees will call play on.

Finally, the arriving players at a tackle must come through “the gate”, an imaginary line running parallel to their own goal line and as wide as the tackle area, and remain on their feet while trying to play the ball. They must also not fall on or over the ball, preventing an opponent from claiming it.

A tackle situation can become a ruck very quickly. A ruck is formed when a player from either side who is on their feet, is in contact over a ball on the ground. Once a ruck is formed, players may no longer use their hands, regardless of whether they are on their feet or not.

This is where a great deal of confusion arises, as a player can be on his feet and attempting to legally claim the ball, only to have a ruck form around him and find himself penalised for using his hands in a ruck. The IRB aims to clear up the confusion with law changes after the World Cup.

The final word on tackles from the Law Book is found in parts of Law 10, which deals with foul play. The law mentions some very obvious forbidden tackling methods, such as late, early or above the shoulders, as well as forbidding tackling “dangerously” which is left to referee’s interpretation.

Tackling a player whose feet are off the ground is expressly mentioned, largely to protect players who have leapt into the air in an attempt to catch the ball, either at line out or from a kick. The tackler must also attempt to wrap one or both arms around the ball carrier, making shoulder charges illegal. Some players, such as Springbok Butch James or All Black Ma’a Nonu, have a reputation for employing this style of tackling occasionally.

Despite the current grey area around when a tackle becomes a ruck, the tackle is fairly simple and hopefully you will be able to appreciate what players and referees do at the tackle. Next week’s “Aw Ref!” will focus on the scrum.

If you have any questions with regards to the laws of rugby, leave a comment and I will answer them in a future “Aw Ref!” column.