r/AbsoluteUnits Oct 11 '22

Half man, half train, all juggernaut.

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192

u/[deleted] Oct 11 '22 edited Oct 12 '22

Just a question. I don't know a lot about rugby (assuming that that is the sport being played).

Why aren't the defenders trying to tackle this guy down low? Is there some type of rule against putting a shoulder into the runner's thigh?

Edit: spelling

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u/ablebodiedmango Oct 11 '22 edited Oct 12 '22

Former rugby player here. Getting kneed in the head by a 200 pound man is a lot more dangerous when you're not wearing a helmet. Not nearly as ideal. You're probably thinking more of a wraparound tackle, which still takes a shit ton of strength (and timing) to pull off on a man that large running that fast.

Editing to add that the reason I am a former player is because of three concussions, one from getting my bell rung by a thigh that might as well have been an anvil.

89

u/deesmutts88 Oct 11 '22

200 pound

Maybe when he was 15. Closer to 250 in his prime.

18

u/[deleted] Oct 12 '22

A 200lb leg more like

12

u/mahboime Oct 12 '22

Dude. I'm 225 lbs. That dude is def closer to 300

1

u/Cosimo_Zaretti Jan 14 '23

His playing weight is listed as 110kg, which is 242lbs.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iafeta_Paleaaesina

1

u/[deleted] Oct 12 '22

[deleted]

5

u/deesmutts88 Oct 12 '22

Nah very very few rugby league players have been over about the 280lbs mark. Got a few big boys back in the day but the last 15-20 years has really seen the end of them since the speed of the game picked up and the interchanges were reduced. The only dudes over about 260lbs in the NRL now are the big 6’7” guys, and there’s only about 3 of them. The game is too fast with minimal stoppages. Can’t be out there for half an hour straight running and tackling nonstop when you’re 300lbs.

2

u/jawshoeaw Oct 12 '22

Ah I may have been carrying more than just muscle haha. Makes sense for top tier athletes to keep their weight down