# Crash ball

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Tactic in rugby league and rugby union

Animation showing how the crash ball technique can be used by the blue team to force two defenders of the red team to commit to a tackle creating a gap in the defensive line

The **crash ball** is an attacking tactic in [rugby league](/source/Rugby_league) and [rugby union](/source/Rugby_union) where a player receives a pass at pace and runs to the opposition's defensive line. The crash ball runner attempts to commit two or more opposing players to the [tackle](/source/Tackle_(football_move)#Rugby_football), then attempts to make the ball available to teammates by offloading in the tackle, performing a quick [play-the-ball](/source/Play-the-ball) in rugby league, or recycling the ball quickly from the [ruck](/source/Rugby_union_gameplay#Ruck) in rugby union. By committing players to the tackle, the crash ball runner creates holes in the opposition's defense, thereby creating attacking opportunities for teammates.

The crash ball is a common tactic in rugby league, especially amongst props and second rowers. In rugby union, crash ball running is often performed by [midfielders](/source/Rugby_union_positions#13._Outside_centre_.26_12._Inside_centre) as a way to create space for the [outside backs](/source/Rugby_union_positions#Collective_terms_for_positions).

The crash ball may also be used when an attacking side is a couple of meters away from the opposition try-line. A player, usually a [lock](/source/Rugby_union_positions#4._.26_5._Lock) or other forward, will run onto a pass and attempt to run into a defender with enough force to be able to push them back over their line and then be able to ground the ball and score a [try](/source/Try_(rugby)).

Size, strength and resilience are the main assets of an effective crash ball runner; passing and handling skills are also important.

## External links

- [BBC Sports Academy - "Make big hits with the crash ball"](http://news.bbc.co.uk/sportacademy/hi/sa/rugby_union/features/newsid_4038000/4038755.stm)

v t e Rugby football terminology General Ankle tap Blitz defence Blood replacement Bomb kick Cap Cauliflower ear Crash ball Drop goal Dummy Field goal Flying kick Goal from mark Grandfather rule Grubber kick Hat-trick Mark Offside Penalty Penalty box Place kick Professional foul Set piece Tackle Dump High Spear Touch Touch judge Try celebration Rugby union Glossary Bonus point Dangerous play Drop kick Experimental law variations Eye-gouging Free kick Gain line Giteau's law Line-out code Numbering schemes Penalty Scrum Test match Rugby league Chicken wing tackle Grapple tackle One on one tackle

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Crash ball](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crash_ball) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crash_ball?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.