Why the yellow/red card?

Here are some of the most common rugby offenses, why they're so sinister, and why we need the referee to keep things under control.

High tackle

High tackles are illegal because it puts the person being tackled in danger. Serious injuries to the neck can be sustained this way, including whiplash, cartilage injury in the throat (such as Joost van der Westhuizen's injury in 1995) and even paralysis.

It can lead to career limiting injuries. For example when Robbie Kempson tackled Toutai Kesu during a Tri-Nations match against Australia, he was out of the game for four weeks.

Line-out

When opposition players pull the lock down by knocking his feet out from under him, the player can land on his back or neck, causing serious injury to the neck or back. Other common injuries sustained this way include fractures to the arm and dislocation of the shoulder.

Scrum

Scrums usually collapse if the prop or hooker lowers his shoulder or tries to pull other players down. If the scrum collapses, any of the front row players can sustain serious neck injuries. Scrum collapses can be prevented by letting players engage in the scrum at the same time.

Ruck/maul

During rucks and mauls, players often stamp on other people. One can imagine that when a man weighing 120 kg wearing studded rugby boots stands on someone else, serious injuries can be sustained.

Being tackled while fielding a high ball

Injuries can be sustained when a player jumps up into the air to catch a high ball and an opposition player tackles the player while he is in the air. If the player lands on his neck or back, serious injuries can be sustained.

Late tackle

Late tackles are dangerous because the player is caught unaware and is not prepared to be tackled.

Shoulder charge

A shoulder charge is usually done with malicious intent with the sole purpose of taking the other player out and can cause unnecessary injuries. A wellknown example of this offence is when Jannes Labuschagne was sent off during a match against England because he shoulder charged Jonny Wilkinson.

Loose scrum

The same injuries can be sustained as during a ruck or maul.

(Liesel Powell, Health24, September 2007)