In rugby union, effective defensive play is highly technical and essential for game outcomes. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify tackle heights, for given tackle types, that had a greater propensity to result in tackle gainline success for the tackler using match video evidence. The results indicated that tackling the upper legs of the ball carrier had a greater propensity to result in tackler success for both front-on (OR = 3.27; 95% CI = 1.34–7.95; p < 0.01) and side-on (OR = 5.31; 95% CI = 2.08–13.6; p < 0.01) arm tackles. For shoulder tackles, tackling at the lower trunk for front-on tackles (OR = 1.70; 95% CI = 1.04-2.79; p = 0.03) and the mid trunk for side-on tackles (OR = 3.11; 95% CI = 1.31–7.37; p < 0.01) had a greater propensity to result in tackler success. For smother tackles, tackling at the mid trunk had a greater propensity to result in tackler success during front-on (OR = 3.49; 95% CI = 1.81–6.74; p < 0.01) and side-on (OR = 5.11; 95% CI = 2.42–10.8; p < 0.01) tackles. The results highlight the importance of tackle height when coaching the tackle. The findings also suggest that technically proficient players can advance to more challenging contact techniques than aiming for the ball carrier’s centre of gravity.
HendricksSMatthewsBRoodeBet al.Tackler characteristics associated with tackle performance in rugby union. Eur J Sport Sci2014; 14: 753–762.
2.
FullerCWBrooksJHCanceaRJet al.Contact events in rugby union and their propensity to cause injury. Br J Sports Med2007; 41: 862–867.
3.
DeutschMKearneyGRehrerN. Time–motion analysis of professional rugby union players during match-play. J Sports Sci2007; 25: 461–472.
4.
HendricksSLambertM. Tackling in rugby: coaching strategies for effective technique and injury prevention. Int J Sports Sci Coach2010; 5: 117–136.
5.
HendricksSRoodeBMatthewsBet al.Defensive strategies in rugby union 1, 2. Percept Mot Skills2013; 117: 65–87.
6.
Tierney GJ, Denvir K, Farrell G, et al. The effect of technique on tackle gainline success outcomes in elite level rugby union. Int J Sports Sci Coach 2018; 13: 16–25.
7.
WheelerKSayersM. Contact skills predicting tackle-breaks in rugby union. Int J Sports Sci Coach2009; 4: 535–544.
8.
JonesNMJamesNMellalieuSD. An objective method for depicting team performance in elite professional rugby union. J Sports Sci2008; 26: 691–700.
9.
WheelerKWAskewCDSayersMG. Effective attacking strategies in rugby union. Eur J Sport Sci2010; 10: 237–242.
10.
SayersMWashington-KingJ. Characteristics of effective ball carries in Super 12 rugby. Int J Perf Anal Sport2005; 5: 92–106.
11.
Tierney GJ, Denvir K, Farrell G, et al. Does player time-in-game affect tackle technique in elite level rugby union? J Sci Med Sport. 2018; 21(2): 221–225.
12.
BurgerNLambertMIViljoenWet al.Tackle technique and tackle-related injuries in high-level South African Rugby Union under-18 players: real-match video analysis. Br J Sports Med2016; 50: 932–938.
13.
TierneyGJLawlerJDenvirKet al.Risks associated with significant head impact events in elite rugby union. Brain Inj2016; 30: 1350–1361.
14.
Montgomery C, Blackburn J, Withers D, et al. Mechanisms of ACL injury in professional rugby union: a systematic video analysis of 36 cases. Br J Sports Med. Epub ahead of print 2016. DOI: 10.1136/bjsports-2016-096425.
15.
Tierney GJ, Krosshaug T, Wilson F, et al. An assessment of a novel approach for determining the player kinematics in elite rugby union players. In: IRCOBI conference proceedings, Lyon, France, September 2015
16.
Tierney GJ, Denvir K, Farrell G, et al. The effect of tackler technique on head injury assessment risk in elite rugby union. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2018; 50(3): 603–608.
17.
HendricksSO'ConnorSLambertMet al.Contact technique and concussions in the South African under-18 Coca-Cola craven week rugby tournament. Eur J Sport Sci2015; 15: 557–564.
18.
GabbettTKellyJ. Does fast defensive line speed influence tackling proficiency in collision sport athletes?Int J Sports Sci Coach2007; 2: 467–472.
19.
GabbettTRyanP. Tackling technique, injury risk, and playing performance in high-performance collision sport athletes. Int J Sports Sci Coach2009; 4: 521–533.
20.
GabbettTJ. Influence of fatigue on tackling technique in rugby league players. J Strength Cond Res2008; 22: 625–632.
FullerCWAshtonTBrooksJHet al.Injury risks associated with tackling in rugby union. Br J Sports Med2010; 44: 159–167.
23.
QuarrieKLHopkinsWG. Tackle injuries in professional rugby union. Am J Sports Med2008; 36: 1705–1716.
24.
HendricksSKarpulDLambertM. Momentum and kinetic energy before the tackle in rugby union. J Sports Sci Med2014; 13: 557.
25.
AltmanDG. Practical statistics for medical research, Boca Ratton, FL: CRC Press, 1990.
26.
PaganoMGauvreauKPaganoM. Principles of biostatistics, Pacific Grove: CA: Duxbury, 2000.
27.
LandisJRKochGG. The measurement of observer agreement for categorical data. Biometrics1977; 33: 159–174.
28.
ScherA. The high rugby tackle-an avoidable cause of cervical spinal injury?Drug Res1978; 5: 197.
29.
Tierney GJ and Simms CK. The effects of tackle height on inertial loading of the head and neck in rugby union: a multibody model analysis. Brain Inj. 2017; 31(13–14): 1925–1931.
30.
Tierney GJ, Lawler J and Simms CK. Upper and lower body tackles in rugby union: the effect on head kinematics. In: IRCOBI conference proceedings, Malaga, Spain, September 2016.
31.
Tierney GJ and Simms CK. The effect of intended primary contact location on tackler head impact risk. In: IRCOBI conference proceedings, Antwerp, Belgium, September 2017.
32.
Hendricks S, van Niekerk T, Sin DW, et al. Technical determinants of tackle and ruck performance in International rugby union. J Sports Sci. 2018; 36(5): 522–528.
33.
SewryNLambertMRoodeBet al.The relationship between playing situation, defence and tackle technique in rugby union. Int J Sports Sci Coach2015; 10: 1115–1128.
34.
HendricksSKarpulDNicollsFet al.Velocity and acceleration before contact in the tackle during rugby union matches. J Sports Sci2012; 30: 1215–1224.
35.
Tierney GJ, Joodaki H, Krosshaug T, et al. The kinematics of head impacts in contact sport: an initial assessment of the potential of model based image matching. In: ISBS conference proceedings archive, Tsukuba, Japan, August 2016.
36.
Tierney GJ, Joodaki H, Krosshaug T, et al. Assessment of model-based image-matching for future reconstruction of unhelmeted sport head impact kinematics. Sports Biomech 2018; 17(1): 33–47.
