A quick peek at our run-down of some of rugby's worst tackles is enough for most to recoil in horror...
10. Sam Warburton v France 2011
It's a decision that will be spoken about for many years to come, as Rolland gave Sam Warburton a straight red card for a dangerous tip-tackle on French winger Vincent Clerc.
By the letter of the law, Rolland probably got it right, but being a World Cup semi-final and going on the consistency shown by refs in the past, it seemed a fairly harsh decision.
Red card or not, this was a horrific moment for Wales and Warburton.
9. CJ Stander knocks out Pat Lambie
We love Ireland international CJ Stander as much as anyone but this mistimed hit that laid Pat Lambie out could is hard to watch.
The fly-half was knocked out cold by the Ireland internationals hip and was unable to continue with South Africa-born Stander dismissed for the reckless incident.
8. Shocking tackle leaves both players unconscious
Chasing a kick from the team’s halfback, American fsart just as the Italian was retrieving the ball from the floor.
Looking to make a solid tackle on his opposing number, Ngwenya got his technique slightly wrong, striking Sarto effectively with a diving headbutt, causing both players to lose consciousness almost immediately.
7. Sitveni Sivivatu crazy flip tackle vs the Cheetahs
What this tackle shows is that once again, if you're not bringing the player back down to ground safely, there's going to be yellow cards, citings, and of course, injuries.
6. Alesana Tuilagi "The Bulldozer" nearly kills Jean de Villiers
Samoan winger was sent off for this dangerous high tackle he made on Springbok in the final of the Quad Series in Pretoria.
De Villiers showed his class as he handled things well, and if anything he did Tuilagi a favour by hopping back up and not feigning injury.
Nevertheless, Tuilagi, who earlier made a few legal big hits, was shown a straight red card and later cited.
5. Fritz Lee nearly takes Luke Hamiltons head off
Fritz Lee almost decapitated Luke Hamilton in the ITM Cup.
Lee was shown a straight red for what was an incredibly dangerous shot, and thankfully Hamilton was fine, showing his mettle by playing on.
Leon Bott completely mistimed a tackle under a high ball, smashing Randwick's David Dillon early, putting him in intensive care with a ruptured spleen.
Surgery followed, but Dillon recovered well.
3. Alesana Tuilagi again...this time on Mark Cueto
n 2005 England hosted Samoa at Twickenham in a match that produced a record score, with the visitors taking a 40-3 hiding, but the game was marred by a few ugly incidents in the second half.
With five minutes left in the game, Mark Cueto was taken out in the air with by a reckless challenge from wing Alesana Tuilagi.
Cueto confronted Tuilagi, and a mass brawl ensued, with Lewis Moody running in, unleashing a barrage of punches.
Referee Mark Lawrence had little option but to red-card both Tuilagi and Moody.
2. Horrific rugby injury player leaves screaming on the floor
In a game Currie Cup game between Girquas and Sharks the Qirquas fullback traps his leg in a bad position leaving him screaming on the floor.
1. Player banned after filthy off the ball tackle on female referee
Without a doubt, one of the ugliest incidents we've ever seen on a rugby field.
The Vicenza player was been banned for 36 months for this dangerous, blind-side tackle on a female referee.
WARNING - DO NOT WATCH THIS. Here is a horrific one - don't watch if you have just eaten.
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- Jordie Barrett over Damian de Allende is far from being correct. The hype around Dupont is also overreaching, he's probably 4th in the world and has been since the 2023 WC. He also avoids certain matchups which is strange. The rest of the list is pretty good apart from minor subjective biases.JasonMarlow16-09-2026
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