A spear tackle is a dangerous tackle in rugby union, rugby league and Australian rules football whereby a player lifts another player into the air and dumps or drops them upside down. Spear tackles are particularly dangerous and have caused serious injury including spinal damage, dislocations and broken bones in the shoulder or neck. It can be recognised by the five actions where a player:
- Comes to a stop,
- grabs an opponent low,
- lifts them,
- twists them
- drives or drops them so that they land on their back, head or neck.
Read more about Spear Tackle: Rugby Union, Rugby League, Australian Rules Football, American and Canadian Football, See Also
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