How do i take down someone much bigger than me in rugby without hurting myself?

Question

On saturday i am playing a rugby match against the toughest team we will face this season. I have seen the oposition and they are huge compared to us and were still a big side. What is the best way to get them down hard without hurting me. Thanks

Answer 1

Agreed, often size is not the be all and end all. Tackling tecnique is as important if not more so than size. I know cos it was my job to knock the bigger blokes over.

If you have been taught correctly then try to follow these points.

Ensure that you try to get to the tackle point before they can get up to speed. It is easier for you to bring down a bigger opponent if you have more momentum and they have less. If you can tackle them just as they are receiving the ball. If the pass is slightly high they are open round the rib cage area and they are generally looking at the ball, this is when they are vunerable.

Make sure the first tackle you put in is a great tackle, watch the player opposite you, try to judge what they are doing, line them up for the tackle & go in as hard as you can. This can often take the wind out of their sail even in the first couple of minutes.

God I wish I was still playing just makes me excited talking about tackling.

Good luck & never give up.

T

Mastah that is all well & good but a front on tackle is one of the most difficult to do correctly as a big team can quite literally run over you.

Bringing the opponent to ground in as quick a time as possible is all important

Picking up an opponent is not a good idea either as this can easily turn into a spear tackle which is dangerous for the tackled player and aslo for the tackler. Only very experienced players should attempt the drive & lift tackle. It seems to me that this player is not quite at that level yet

Answer 2

The best way of prevent injuries is not fearing them. This doesnt mean you should charge with your head, but if you must tackle somebody, focus on bringing him down, respect the tackling guidelines your coaches taught you, and be blunt.

Tackle sideways, and bring him down!

Answer 3

Hit them low and hit them hard.

If you back off from the tackle you are a lot more likely to get hurt.

Answer 4

Try and tackle them front on when they are running straight at you.  Get down low, keep your head to which ever side you prefer and when they are almost upon you, drive forward and up with your shoulder.  Aim to hit them right in the pelvis.  They will fold in half.  Keep driving up, lifting them off the ground and then when you've got them as high as your going to, drive them into the ground and ram your shoulder into them when they hit the deck.  If you do it right, it doesn't matter how much bigger they are than you.  It will look awesome, they will be sore as h**l, and your team mates will get a huge boost of confidence.  Make it a challenge with your team to see who can put the biggest hurt on them.  When you all go out at them like kamikaze's, you'll put them on the back foot and roll them.

Answer 5

1st - think big and bring big.  

2nd - be the one that delivers the hit.

3rd - focus on the hips and put your shoulder on their hip (head on the outside).  no matter how much juke and stutter stepping they do the hips will move the least.  

4th - drive through the tackle, wrap the legs and extend yours as you drive.

ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING

Answer 6

Hit him hard & low.

Nobody can run wtihout his legs.

Your targrt area should be the knees or lower.

But be careful of the handoff.

To counteract this it is better for you to tackle him on the side where he is holding the ball.

Only once he has fallen do you release your grip & get to your feet to try & get to the ball.

NO guts NO glory!!

Cheers

B.

Answer 7

Tackle him around the leg's, this'll give enough time for support to arrive, when he's down immediatley get to your feet and if possible go for the ball, possesion of the ball is what you're after.

Answer 8

Tackle low and hard.  Leverage is everything, if you are lower than the other person typically you are going to make the play.  Use your technique drive the shoulder into their thigh.  No matter if their bigger or stronger wrapping and hitting them low will get you the tackle.  Don't get discouraged if you fall on your back as long as you successfully wrap up an extra yard is a lot better than a try

Answer 9

When tackling someone as big as you, there is always the possibility of getting hurt.

Its part of the game and over 50 % it normally from someone in your team that caused it.

As for techniques, they are useless if in the wrong mind set and if you go in half ***.

My advise would be to practice as a team to tackle in pairs, mixing the pair up and putting rules into place when doing this.

Some examples of rule would be for the first man to slow the player down by starting low grabbing his pants or jersey or tackling around his waist, well the 2nd player goes high.

Another would be to trap him in between, bide together and go in.

There are lots you can do, but my point is, Rugby is a team game, it involves strong minds and commitment.

One or more big guys playing individual is nothing compared to a whole team playing together.

Good luck for your game and wish you the best.

Answer 10

go to youtube and check out some MMA instructional videos. they teach you effective take down moves whatever the size of them. frank shamrock, bas rutten, randy couture,  gracie ju jitsu are good teachers. its all about angles and technique. some of these vids may ot be applicable entirely on the rugby field but you can learn about the anatomy of a takedown. best of luck.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHcw_SdE0...

avoid takedown - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHcw_SdE0...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UR2CqPMwl...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1CMFj5UK...

Answer 11

My old Rugby (league) coach was a real old school player and he used to tell us that

'no matter how big a man is, he can't run without his legs'.

Now I always assumed that this meant that if you don't think you can tackle and stop the offload, then grab both knees and bring him down...... And this stood me in good stead until a big Tongan from Rochdale did it to me and completely destroyed one of my knees. My coach visited me in hospital and told me that THAT was what he meant!!!!!

Answer 12

tackle them at the right angle in the right way- have a big heart !!!  show them your not going to be messed with - your terriers  grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr   you wont give in and roll over- you may even have a chance then- go fearing them and you will get stuffed !

Answer 13

you dont.

Answer 14

All the the answers given so far have been spot on in terms of tackling styles. But if that fails, you could suddenly discover that your boot laces have come undone and bend down to retie them thus leaving someone else to do the job. All jokes aside remember the bigger they are the harder they fall!