Rugby 101 Education Center for Tackle & Touch
USA Rugby 2024-2025 Game Management Guidelines
Click the link below for the latest update from USA Rugby on the key points of the Laws of the Game.
Plus, be sure to read up on the new 2025 tackle height laws that have been introduced to make the game safer by taking the head out of the tackle impact area.
Tackle & Touch Rugby Laws
Tackle rugby in Arizona will be played under the World Rugby Laws of Rugby: CLICK HERE
The Youth Touch Rugby Rules that we play under in Arizona: CLICK HERE
Youth Tackle – Matrix of Variations for U10, U12, U14 (incl. weight chart): CLICK HERE
This page contains links to instructional resources like You Tube videos to help you gain an appreciation for the finer points of rugby by observing how the professionals play the game. Youth non-contact rugby in Arizona uses International Touch Rugby rules as its base but adds in rugby related elements like the scrum and the lineout to help the younger players develop skills and an understanding of the full contact tackle game of rugby union.
A basic overview of rugby: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOJejnPI0p0
Lots of great training modules on this site, all free! Test yourself with a Law exam, learn the what Rugby Ready means, get the basics on First Aid and concussion management, and a whole lot more. The Beginners Guide to Rugby has a pdf to download and a short quiz to check your understanding of the game.
Beginners Guide to Rugby Union: http://passport.worldrugby.org/index.php?page=beginners&language=en
Law Exam: http://laws.worldrugby.org/index.php
Rugby Ready: http://rugbyready.worldrugby.org/?language=en
Safe Tackling Techniques
Here are a few short clips (1-3 min) on how to make a safe tackle – head to the side (cheek to cheek), aim for the bellybutton with your shoulder, wrap the arms around the legs, fall down with the runner, try to land on top of the runner.
Equally important is how to take a tackle. Do not stick your arms out to brace your fall with your hands, you might hurt your wrists or forearms. Keep your arms tucked in and roll your body down to the ground.
Basic how to do a rugby tackle
BokSmart safety during ball carries
Rugby Smart – Pat Lam tackling techniques (8 min)
Fifteens Rugby
8 forwards (the scrum), one scrumhalf, 6 backs. Roles and jersey numbers are as follows.
Scrum Front row: Tight head prop (1), hooker (2), loose head prop (3)
Scrum 2nd row: Lock (4), Lock (5)
Scrum Back row: Openside flanker (7), Number Eight (8), Blindside Flanker (6)
Scrumhalf (9)
Backs: Flyhalf (10), Left wing (11), Inside center (12), Outside center (13), Right wing (14), Fullback (15).
Rob Webber - hooker throw-in or Kevin Mealamu - hooker throw-in
Adam Jones - front row scrumming and tight head techniques
Lawrence Dallaglio - #8 scrumming
Aaron Smith - scrumhalf passing and box kicking
Freddie Burns - backs running lines
Stuart Hogg - counter attack options
Austin Healey / Steve Hanley - winger defence
Austin Healey / Chris Pennell - full back counter attack
Mike Brown - catching the high ball or Ben Smith - the high ball
Playlist of 74 Rugby Tonight Masterclass episodes
A good base attacking structure for a 15s team is to use forwards in two pods of 3 players to break the gain line, draw in defenders, and then create space out wide for our speedy outside backs to get 2 on 1 overlaps against isolated defenders.
This 5 min video gives an overview of this 1-3-3-1 attacking structure: Overview of the basic 1-3-3-1 attacking shape
This 15 min video goes into the 1-3-3-1 shape in more detail.
Match Highlights - Fifteens Rugby
Highlights of the 2019 World Cup Final, South Africa v England: https://youtu.be/Fr26b5D2rj8
Highlights of the 2019 World Cup Bronze Final, New Zealand v Wales: https://youtu.be/vR5ND006iBU
Highlights of the 2019 World Cup Semi-Final England v New Zealand: https://youtu.be/QXokTpJGduw
2015 World Cup Final, New Zealand v Australia (full match): https://youtu.be/RxnNrwvCLyM
Highlights of one of the greatest games of 15s rugby ever played, the 2000 Bledisloe Cup between Australia and New Zealand: https://youtu.be/YALDB3wNIws
Sevens Rugby
World Rugby You Tube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/irb
This is a good general site with lots of clips of rugby action.
For videos on 7s rugby, go to World Rugby website and click on the HSBC Series link:
https://www.worldrugby.org/sevens-series
Or get on Youtube and search for Perry Baker, Danny Barrett or Carlin Isles, 3 of our current great Eagles 7s players.
eg: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHzdK9torvo
International Touch Rugby
There are videos on You Tube of international touch rugby:
2015 World Cup Final – Australia vs New Zealand
Note here how quickly the ball is played after the tag and the scrum half is right there ready to pick up the ball and keep going, and the support players are already running forward ready to receive the ball.
2017 Mixed Touch - Australia vs New Zealand
2011 World Cup Final – Mixed – Australia vs New Zealand.
The Touch New Zealand You Tube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/touchnewzealand
Catch up on all of the International rugby teams and current news.
Create an account and take free online learning modules to improve your knowledge and game!
Located in Dublin, Ireland, World Rugby’s purpose is to grow rugby by making it more relevant and accessible, with a vision of a global sport for all, true to its values.
World Rugby is an international federation and a global movement comprising more than 500 million fans and 10 million players within 128 national member federations affiliated through six regional associations.
