Rugby videos of tackles, tries, funny incidents and more: Cracking rugby league hit by Thomas Leuluai

Sunday, April 13, 2008

Cracking rugby league hit by Thomas Leuluai

I don't often post Rugby League clips on Rugbydump, but, there's time when I'll come across a tackle or incident that really is worth sharing, as on this occasion.

Former Samoan rugby union player Maurie Fa'asavalu, who incidentally is now legible to play League for Great Britain after living there for four years, is the victim of a cracking hit from Thomas Leuluai in this match between St Helens and Wigan.

Leuluai is a New Zealander playing his rugby for Wigan in the UK, and by the look of things, knows how to dish out the big hits. Leuluai hit Fa'asavalu so hard here, that the game had to be stopped for a while so he could recover. The best part about this is that, unlike a lot of the League hits we see, the hit is perfectly legal.

It's also great to see how Fa'asavalu gives the thumbs up after he recovers finally.

What a hit!! Unreal power behing that tackle!! And he managed to get his arms around to make it legal.

Good to see Fa'asavalu managing to actually keep the ball in his hand and not lose posession.

Even better to see the sportsmanship as he acknowledges Leuluai for his awesome tackle.

By Anonymous, at April 13, 2008 5:30 pm
great hit...goes to show that size doesnt matter...................................................IN RUGBY. hahahaha

simon v

By Anonymous, at April 13, 2008 5:45 pm
It looks like he probably got the wind knocked out of him- once he got his breath back, he was able to jump up as good as new.

Seeing the replay of the tackle, I was struck by how quickly Leuluai went from standing upright to a tackle- that speed generated a lot of power. Although if you watch the actual collision, Fa'asavalu didn't get knocked back that far- must be a big difference in their weights.

By Unknown, at April 13, 2008 5:51 pm
in response to mo14k saying because he got the arms around made it legal, in rugby league you don't have to use the arms the shoulder charge is perfectly legal

By Anonymous, at April 13, 2008 6:00 pm
fuck

By Anonymous, at April 13, 2008 6:25 pm
What's classed as illegal then?

By Anonymous, at April 13, 2008 6:32 pm
thaaaaaats numberwang!!

By Anonymous, at April 13, 2008 8:25 pm
anything above shoulder height I think, mo14k.

Great to see good sportsmanship on the field

By Anonymous, at April 13, 2008 9:01 pm
Rugby leagues sucks compared to Union

By Anonymous, at April 13, 2008 9:32 pm
Anonymous... How is that relevant to this video?

Stop being an argumentative little tit and jog on.

By Anonymous, at April 13, 2008 9:44 pm
lol at the commentator "hes been given a serve".
btw dont make it a league vs union flamewar.

By Anonymous, at April 13, 2008 9:50 pm
Yeah please dont start this league v union bullshit, both codes are equally great, i and no doubt a lot of others enjoy watching and/or playing both codes. I watched that game live and it was a fantastic hit from the smallest player on the pitch against one of the biggest and you gotta love the thumbs up from big maurie even after and i quote stevo "been given a serve" the appreciation of a tackle he'd be proud of himself.

By Anonymous, at April 14, 2008 12:34 am
those samoans can hit! its all about timing... and leuluai timed it right.

By Anonymous, at April 14, 2008 12:56 am
o for owesome! haha!

yeah! i agree, i've played both codes and enjoy them both!!

By George, at April 14, 2008 1:55 am
I'm not a fan of League but it does produce many cracking hits much like this one.

By Anonymous, at April 14, 2008 2:37 am
OMG! Awesome hit! Also good reaction by Fa'asavalu keeping the ball in hands.

By Sergi Martinez, at April 14, 2008 3:12 am
Good hit, and good sportmanship.

By Anonymous, at April 14, 2008 10:33 am
mo14k illeagal takles are late tackles, high tackles (though frequently not given), tackling in the air and lifting the player of the ground and turning them past 90 degrees

By Anonymous, at April 14, 2008 12:48 pm
Good tackle!
Better than many other "rugby league hits" where it's more malicious than effective

Who wants spare ribs !)?

By Flooz, at April 14, 2008 12:59 pm
my problem with rugby league is that most tackles appear very malicious. its like a bunch of thugs playing.

By Anonymous, at April 14, 2008 2:15 pm
Great hit and sportsmanship.......

By Unknown, at April 14, 2008 2:39 pm
Don't generally watch league but when I see tackles like this it makes me want to start.

By Anonymous, at April 14, 2008 7:41 pm
samoan power! and...er...samoan pain LOL..

By Anonymous, at April 14, 2008 9:01 pm
that was something.

By Don, at April 15, 2008 9:08 pm
hmmmm actually, i just got to question the legality, although it wasnt high etc could there (if it was union) be any problems with the fact he didnt wrap his arms? i have given a few big hits similar looking to this where i havent really had time to wrap my arms as the guy is on the ground, and had no problems with it, but i dont know the fine points of when you are deemed to have not used your arms......

By No.7, at April 16, 2008 4:15 am
Oh mummy, awesome technique where he drives his shoulder right before contact. I feel for the big fella, guddles the ball, catches, looks up and goodnight.

Great to see him jump up and acknowledge the hit and take it like a real man (not that he had a choice haha)

By Carts7, at April 16, 2008 11:11 am
i dont watch rugby leage much but i do know that the game has a rep for HUGE hits.but this has gotta be one of th best to come from the game.HERE COMES THE BOOM!!!;););););)p.s. please dont start a rugby union v rugby leage war.it pisses me off and many others.

By Anonymous, at April 16, 2008 4:09 pm
No.7 im not sure whether its legal or the referees just let it go but a lot of tackles like that are let go in league, theres one by a lad called sam burgess for bradford not sure who against that was what would definately be called illegal in union.

By Anonymous, at April 16, 2008 8:34 pm
type in sam burgess on youtube there are a few on there from him!

By Anonymous, at April 16, 2008 8:36 pm
Yeah great hit, unfortuantely for Fa'asavalu his reachin for the ball left him W I D E open. But twas fortunate for us nonetheless. Every Cloud eh Fa'?!

I would say that although the hit was a legal one with the laws of League, if it were made during a Union game Leuluai would probably be taking a ten minute break on the sidelines. But i dont mean to diminish his tackle, it showed great timing and power.

Again great sportsmanship, something which sets both codes apart from that of thee sinfull round ball game - of which we shall not speak.

By Anonymous, at April 19, 2008 12:33 am
I can't see how anyone is questioning the legality of this hit in either code.

Leuluai makes a genuine attempt to wrap his arms around the man - but his capitulation into a sack of spuds makes it impossible to do so.

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By Anonymous, at February 14, 2010 10:51 am