The welfare of rugby players has come into focus lately after an extensive survey into player injuries in Ireland. It’s no wonder after seeing hits like these on a regular basis on the rugby pitch.
1. Jocelino Suta on Remy Martin
At first glance, the tackle by Toulon lock Jocelino Suta on Bayonne flanker Remy Martin doesn’t look too bad, but have a look at the slow motion replay and you begin to realise why he was issued with a straight red card, a rare enough occurrence on the rugby pitch. Martin’s long blond hair makes the impact look a bit more spectacular, but how his jaw remained intact after this, I’ll never know.
2. Fritz Lee on Luke Hamilton
When you’re the last defender and one-on-one with an opponent who’s absolutely flying towards your try line, there’s not a lot that can be done, but Counties Manukau loose forward Fritz Lee reckoned that decapitation was the only way to go in a clash with Northland in New Zealand last year.
Lee’s high ‘tackle’ on Northland’s Luke Hamilton was nothing short of assault and given the speed at which it happened, it is a miracle that Hamilton escaped unhurt.
3. Brian O’Driscoll on Danie Roussouw
The Ireland captain has copped some bumps and bruises down through the years thanks to his all action, body-on-the-line style of play, none more so than in the Lions Tour of South Africa in 2009, which featured some of the most brutally physical rugby ever seen.
Towards the end of the second test in Pretoria, with the Lions battling to keep the Springboks at bay, O’Driscoll put in a ferocious hit on substitute lock Danie Roussouw, which knocked the 6’5”, 18 stone Roussouw for six. The legality of the tackle is certainly in doubt (O’Driscoll didn’t exactly wrap his arms around Roussouw), but it was a statement of intent on behalf of both O’Driscoll and the Lions that they weren’t going to be messed around. Unfortunately, O’Driscoll had to retire shortly after and the Lions lost to a late penalty from Morne Steyn.
4. Sebastian Chabal on Ali Williams
The jury remains out on Sebastian Chabal’s worth as a player, but he is something of a cult hero with French rugby followers thanks to his caveman looks and aggressive style. Against the All-Blacks in Wellington in 2007, Chabal charged at Ali Williams with such force that he broke Williams’ jaw in a sickening collision.
5. Keith Earls and Sam Tuitupou on Richard Fussell
The Munster centre pairing came in for some criticism for this double-team tackle on Ospreys winger Richard Fussell last December, with some onlookers pointing out that it was remarkably close to a spear tackle of the like that so infamously ended Brian O’Driscoll’s Lions Tour of 2005. That seems a bit harsh on Earls on Tuitupou, as it was nowhere near as bad as that, but Fussell was certainly slammed to the ground in unceremonious fashion. Judge for yourself after having a look below.
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