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Rugby · Level 2: Elementary · Sub-level 2.3

Tackling Technique

10 tests · 100 facts · updated 28 October 2026 · markdown

How tackles are made safely: front-on and from behind, the smother and the chop, body height and the tackle zone, wrap and drive, release, readiness, the double tackle and tackle drills.

Each test below is ten questions on Insporta. The list under a test is what the questions check: one fact per question, with the source it was written from. Read it before the test, or come back from a wrong answer.

Test 1The front-on tackleTake a test

  1. The head goes to the side, never in front of the knees.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  2. Short steps keep balance and power.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  3. Dropping the weight finishes the tackle.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  4. It meets the carrier head-on.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  5. Low height keeps heads clear and gives power.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  6. Wrapping holds the legs together.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  7. Seeing the target keeps the head safe.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  8. Steps, height, head and shoulder, finish.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

  9. Lower targets are safer.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

  10. Meeting the carrier face to face.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

Test 2The tackle from behindTake a test

  1. A low hold brings the carrier down safely.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  2. Legs locked, the carrier falls.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  3. Landing on a back can drive the head down.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  4. A last-ditch trip from behind.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  5. A dive at the ankle can still bring a runner down.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  6. Cover tackles save scores.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  7. Cover defenders chase back.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  8. Chase, target, slide, finish.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

  9. The tap is the last resort.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

  10. Tripping the ankle from behind.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

Test 3The smother tackleTake a test

  1. Smothering stops the offload.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  2. Arms trapped, the ball cannot be passed.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  3. Holding the carrier up can win the ball.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  4. High enough for the ball, below the neck.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  5. Teamwork makes the smother work.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  6. Upper-body tackles must stay below the neck.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  7. Smothers kill offloading attacks.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  8. Square, wrap, hold up, drive.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

  9. The higher the wrap, the less chance of an offload.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

  10. Trapping the ball prevents the offload.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

Test 4The chop tackleTake a test

  1. Chopping takes the legs away.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  2. Taking the legs stops a heavy runner.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  3. Chop and jackal is a common pairing.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  4. No wrestling, just legs.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  5. In front of the knees risks a knee to the head.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  6. A tackler on the floor is out of the game.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  7. A chop must be low to work.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  8. Low, chop, ground, contest.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

  9. Chop low, smother high.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

  10. Low and around the legs.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

Test 5Body height and the tackle zoneTake a test

  1. Aiming low keeps heads apart.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  2. A flat back and raised head protect the spine.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  3. It keeps the head behind the carrier.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  4. Knees bent keeps the head safe and the body stable.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  5. Most head injuries come from high contact.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  6. The shoulder makes contact, never the head.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  7. Shoulder contact, head to the side.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  8. Knees bent and head up is safest.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

  9. Feet, height, head, arms.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

  10. Height and head position keep tackles safe.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

Test 6Wrap and driveTake a test

  1. Wrapping holds the carrier.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  2. Arms must wrap.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  3. Driving pushes the carrier back.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  4. Going back hands the defence momentum.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  5. It stops and reverses the carrier.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  6. Legs together, the carrier falls.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  7. Release lets the contest continue.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  8. Contact, wrap, drive, release.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

  9. Driving back is best.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

  10. Driving the carrier back counts as dominant.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

Test 7Release and getting back upTake a test

  1. The tackler lets go so the ball is available.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  2. Lying in the way slows the ball.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  3. A tackler who rises can contest.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  4. Players on the ground cannot defend.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  5. Two skills joined.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  6. Lying on the ball stops play.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  7. Rolling clear leaves the ball available.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  8. Tackle, let go, clear, rejoin.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

  9. Back on the feet is best.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

  10. Rolling clear makes the ball available.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

Test 8Being tackle readyTake a test

  1. A ready stance lets the defender move any way.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  2. Hands ready means arms in the tackle.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  3. Square defenders can go either way.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  4. Short steps prevent being stepped.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  5. Quick resets keep the line full.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  6. Communication stops gaps.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  7. Hips do not lie about direction.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  8. Stance, close, shorten, tackle.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

  9. Bent knees and hands up is ready.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

  10. Ready to move and tackle.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

Test 9The double tackleTake a test

  1. One takes the legs, one the ball.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  2. Splitting jobs makes the tackle complete.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  3. Whoever is closest goes first.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  4. High double tackles are risky.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  5. Team tackling stops powerful runners.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  6. Both tacklers must stay in the game.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  7. Calls decide the jobs.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  8. Low, high, down, rejoin.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

  9. Bigger carriers need two defenders.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

  10. Low and high together.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

Test 10Tackle drillsTake a test

  1. Kneeling drills build technique safely.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  2. Bags let players practise full contact safely.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  3. Slow speed lets coaches check technique.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  4. Technique first, then speed.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  5. Small space forces safe, controlled tackles.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  6. Carriers come from both sides.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  7. Video shows head position and height.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  8. Build up step by step.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

  9. Speed comes last.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

  10. Kneeling keeps it slow and safe.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

Sources

World Rugby handbooks and coaching material, union and competition records; original questions authored, nothing reproduced. Numbered Laws belong to the Laws category.

  • General rugby union reference100