Spear and dump tackles

Question
I watch alot of rugby and a good dump or spear tackle always looks great. can you give me some tips on how to do both these things but ill understand if you cant say about spearing cause its illegal.
Thanks, Jon

Answer
Hi Jon, Spear tackles are illegal and I hope you never experience the feeling of a team mate or someone you know becoming paralized from dangerous play, it is a life altering experience. Please play within the rules. Play hard but play fair and your goal is never to injur the other player it is to stop them. I have put a past answer for a question regarding tackling, I hope it helps:

Questioner:   Sean
Category:  Rugby
Private:  No     View Published Answer
 
Subject:  tackling
Question:  Hi, im 13 years old and 6ft and i weigh 13stone. i play tighthead prop for a club. i need to improve my tackling but i find it hard. i go to high all the time and i really want to improve. i also want to get more power into my tackles. ive been playin rugby for 4 yrs and my tacklings nver been a problem but in now playin a year up and i need to improve.

thanks.
 
Answer:  Hi Sean,

I have pasted the answer to a question similar to yours below.  As a fellow prop I congratulate you on choosing the best position on the field!

I hope this helps, the quest was from a prop who wanted to be "more aggressive" on the field and like you improve tackling:

"This is a relatively personal question I believe. I can only answer from my own point of view - so ask around.

I was always a confident scrummager - for some reason I just clicked with the position. It took me YEARS to overcome my "fear" of tackling. I made the tackles but it was more of a "hit and hope" style.

As for scrummaging the big thing is to get cool about it. Too many guys get all worked up and think they need to be breathing fire.

The key word is focus - focus on technique, body position and timing. Don't get sucked into the mind games some props try to implement like eye-balling you or even verbal threats, anything like that is simple a manifestation of their fear. The best props never say a word - see Olo Brown for a perfect example.

Focus on the job, and the timing of your hit. Aggression is not the way, focussed intensity is.

As for tackles, the thing that switched the light on for me was when a skilled coach took the time to walk me through the technique of a tackle. Browse my past answers for more on this .

The thing about tackling is to approach the situation the same regardless of the players size. Ironically big players will often go down easier while I have have been pretty much embarrassed by medium / small players on occasion.

From the front on tackle focus on the point of impact that you want - the point center between the player's hips the "string of their shorts". focus on that point and it takes away the brain's desire to analyze all the other jinks and fakes players  throw at you.

For rear tackles move in hard and wrap up the player. Either come in low and go for the full tackle or wrap up the arms so a pass cannot be made.

Again, focussed intensity is the way, amateurs use rugby as a vent for aggression , professionals use it to hone their mental strength. Look at any impact sport, rarely do boxers or pro-rugby players go "psycho" the thing people notice is the intense focus in their eyes.

Right down all the duties of your specific "job" on the field and spend time visualizing yourself successfully completing these tasks.

My opinion, I hope it helps.