A compilation of a controversial tackle technique used by England hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie has been going viral on social media with fans fearing he could seriously injure himself or an opponent.
One fan wrote: "He has been doing it a long time. Extraordinary that coaches and/or referees have not put him straight. Someone needs to. Has already knocked himself senseless just before Lions tour but still no change. Beggars belief."
Another added: " All rugby jerseys should have a square print on them that shows where we are allowed to tackle: NIPS to HIPS. Then we can check each tackle with the TMO to see where the tackler first made contact. The ban length can be based on how many cm first contact was outside that square"
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Five players who played through horrendous injuries, including Joe Marler
1. RICHIE MCCAW (BROKEN FOOT)
The two-time Rugby World Cup-winning All Blacks captain, and most capped international of all time, had to hide a broken foot from the media, his teammates and even his coach, then Graham Henry, during the 2011 RWC.
He would not only play the rest of the semi-final, but also the final a week later and in doing so eeked out a famous victory against France to end a 24-year wait for World Cup glory in New Zealand.
2. JAMIE ROBERTS (CRACKED SKULL)
Aged 22, he cracker his skull around his right eye after a collision with Stirling Mortlock that also ended the Wallabies captain's match. Yet, remarkably, the Cardiff Blues centre stayed on the pitch for a further 15 minutes, even playing a part in the game's opening try, before succumbing to the pain.
3. JOE MARLER (BROKEN LEG)
The 26-year-old prop picked up the leg fracture during the first half of Quins’ 24-17 defeat at Worcester a few years back but played on and completed the 80 minutes. Hard man.
4. WAYNE SHELFORD (RIPPED SCROTUM)
We've saved the best for last here, with the story of former All Blacks captain Wayne "Buck" Shelford who suffered possibly the most horrific injury known to man in just his second international game. Be warned, this one is graphic.
During the infamous "Battle of Nantes" between New Zealand and France in 1986, Shelford first had three teeth knocked out of his head before suffering a concussion which knocked him out. But the worst was yet to come.
Early in the second half while trying to recover the ball from a ruck, a stray French boot ripped open his scrotum and left one of his testicles hanging out. Amazingly, Shelford was unaware of the fact until after the game, where he simply asked the team doctor to stitch him back together.
New Zealand lost the game 16-3, but it would be the only international game Shelford ever lost as a player. He went on to be a part of the New Zealand team that won the first ever Rugby World Cup and even captained the team for the three years that followed.
5. JOHNNY SEXTON (Fractured wrist, broken arm and ruptured ankle tendons)
The fly-half entered the final Test for the Lions against the All Blacks in 2017 with a fractured wrist, suffered in the second Test, before rupturing a tendon in his ankle during the opening half of the decider in Auckland, reported the Irish Independent.
He damaged his wrist in the second half of the famous victory over the All Blacks, but strapped it up for the series decider.
After the 15-all draw, he underwent scans that revealed he also had a broken bone in his arm.
