Rugby Rule regarding tackling or contact above the shoulders

Question
Nick,

I am a fellow Expert under the American Football section.  I have a question concerning the rugby rule(s) governing contact or tackling an opponent above the shoulder, or at the neck,head.  What is the rule about contacting or tackling a player above the shoulder? Do you have the rule cite or can you cut and paste the rule in your response?

I am researching some history of American Football rules and want to find the rule in rugby on the subject for comparison.
Thanks,
Vic Winnek

Answer
G'day Victor,

If you cut and paste this link to your browser locator it should take you to the formal laws of the game:

http://www.irb.com/mm/Document/LawsRegs/0/COMPLETELAWS_4809.pdf

If that doesn't work got to www.irb.com  then click "Laws and Regulations" and go from there.

The specific Law(s) are found in section 10.4e:

Dangerous tackling. A player must not tackle an opponent
early, late or dangerously.
Penalty: Penalty Kick

A player must not tackle (or try to tackle) an opponent above the
line of the shoulders. A tackle around the opponents neck or head
is dangerous play.
Penalty: Penalty Kick

A 憇tiff-arm tackle?is dangerous play. A player makes a stiff-arm
tackle when using a stiff-arm to strike an opponent.
Penalty: Penalty Kick

Note: unlike USA Football the only player that can be tackled legally is the player actually holding the ball. There is no blocking in rugby either.

The "head-high" tackle is probably the most strictly enforced foul play rule. You will see ref's letting the odd punch or late tackle go but the "head-high" is always going to get a penalty, even if the running player ducks into the tackle.

For more simple information about rugby I suggest "Rugby for Dummies" which despite the comical name is actually a good basic start to the game of rugby, the culture, the history etc, especially for USA players and coaches.

Let me know if you have any more questions. And maybe I can turn you to the "dark side of the force" to become a rugby coach!