I am starting out on a rugby team (womens) but am struggling to make tackles on the bigger players?

Question

I am playing on the wing so need to be an effective defensive player but am only 5'3 and 122lb - I go to tackle people and just bounce off, barely slowing them down. I know that it isn't completely due to my size as there is another player on the team much smaller but she doesn't seem to have any trouble; what am I doing wrong?

Answer 1

Don't rush into to the tackle, stay on your toes, then go low around their shins, the important thing is to be brave going into the tackle and commit yourself to it. If you can't be brave enough to make the low tackle just try and hold up the player until one of your teamates comes and helps. Always remember:" the bigger they are the harder they fall"!!!

Answer 2

A big part of tackling is getting timing right.

Maybe some of my experiences might help

  If you are small you should position yourself in such a way that  when play gets to you , you have a good angle / touch-line to work with. I used to go in quick and low with a wide sweep of my arms. When my arm hit a leg  (usually below the knee) I would slide my hands to their feet and pin them. I didn't drive with my shoulder ; as my hands / arms wrapped around their legs I PULLED my shoulder into them. This way it's a lot harder to bounce you off.

When having no option but to tackle a big man front on I would " absorb" the initial impact. As he tried to run over me I would "let" him push me off , but have my body in such a position that I got good upward leg-drive on the "rebound " ;  or be balanced to "spring" and pin his feet.

  Thats about the best I can offer. Hope it's of some use.

Answer 3

i have played virtually every postition and played it for years the best thing to do is just before the guy or girl comes to you is say whats the worst that can happen yeah maybe at worst a broken arm or leg but they'll b better in a couple of weeks i always say that and i've never had a serious injury just think of the worst thing thats happened and run into them with all your energy just think its like the last tackle your ever gonna do and just run and dive into there legs.

DONT BE SCARED

good luck

Answer 4

Go around the ankles, basic tackling. The bigger they are the harder they fall. Remember Lomu, the huge All Black wing, he destroyed everyone except the Springboks because the Boks went around his ankles, they did the basics right. If this ain't working, give it up and try bowls or darts.

Answer 5

technique will beat size 6 out of 7 days a week.  Unless you're facing a 300lbs muscle bound gorilla they should be easy to take down.  Firstly, don't look at their hands, shoulders, or feet.  If you watch these your opponent can do little tricks and leave you in the dust.  Instead look at their hips because in the words of Shakira, hips don't lie.  Not only will these help you stay on your opponent, they'll also be your target.  What you need to do is line up your opponent "cheek to cheek."  That means the cheek of your face with the cheek of their butt.  When you do this, make sure you keep your head on the outside (don't cross the body of your opponent with your head otherwise you'll break your neck).When you're cheek to cheek with your opponent, then you should line up with your shoulders at the hips.  Finally, wrap your arms around their knees and squeeze.  The fact is that no one is immune from losing their balance.  If your bring your opponents knees together then they'll fall like a tree in the forest not matter how big or small.  Then simply just let their momentum bring them down.  Tackling this way aside from being the safest and easiest way to tackle a big player, also will save your tons of energy so you can run and tackle more folks.

Answer 6

I'd tell you to work on your arms & shoulders strengths before attempting as you could dislocate if weak and tackling from the wrong side. To tackle a bigger person, I find it easier and less painful especially for myself to tackle from the side, between hip and ribs. If you're doing a spear tackle which always works for me, then you shouldn't have a problem. At your height and weight, legs could hurt you so I'd suggest you try the spear ( flying in time to hit on the side). Again work on strengthening shoulders first for that. Try it out, that's the island style!

Answer 7

if they are running at speed hold their legs and let their momentin take them over. many players i know think that you have to tackle a play forward when that isn't the case. many big players will just be held onto and their momentum will take them down. all you need to remember is to get low and believe in yourself. just think to yourself your a brick will that nobody can get past.

Answer 8

A tackle has three technical components. 1 the close, during this time you focus on the opposition center of gravity, the belt buckle, and mirror it except always move forward. So if the belt buckle moves left you move left etc etc

2 the engagement- you have to practice this as it can come at a variety of angles if you are new to tackling start with the head on engagement. lower your canter of gravity and place your head next to the belt buckle so your center of gravity translates into the tackle. wrap your arms around a body part, legs(s) waist etc

3 is the finish- two basic methods- drive through using your legs and maintain the wrap or lean/drive to the side allowing the opposition momentum to disrupt their balance.

Answer 9

You might be being a bit tentative. A good starting point is to concentrate on the persons shorts and don't take your eyes of them. Move towards them and when you're about a step away crouch down in a squat position (kind of like a prop in a scrum) but keep your head up! very important to keep your head up and don't look at the ground.

Then just explode into their hips and slide down but make sure you hit into them instead of letting them run into you. If they are quite big with momentum you will fall back with them but they will go down. If they're not so big you might just about put a bit of a hit in! Yeah boy!

Good luck. Be aggressive with good technique and you'll be sweet.

Answer 10

I have been playing rugby since kindergarten. Just tackle low and they will go flying.

Answer 11

Tackle them as low as possible, Hitting the legs. If not possible just grab the player and slow her down until support can arrive.