If you've ever watched a highlight reel of a winger leaping over a defender and wondered, can you hurdle in rugby, the answer is actually a bit more complicated than a simple yes or no. You see it happen in the NFL all the time—a running back sees a defender diving at their ankles and just launches themselves into the air. It looks incredible, it's a total crowd-pleaser, and it usually ends up on a "Top 10" list the next morning. But rugby isn't the NFL, and the laws governing what you can and can't do with your body in the air are a lot more restrictive.
The short version? You generally can't just hurdle a defender who is standing their ground. In fact, if you try it in a weekend match, you're more likely to hear a whistle and see a yellow card than you are to score a legendary try. It all comes down to safety—both yours and the guy trying to tackle you.
Why the Hurdle Is Usually a No-Go
In the eyes of World Rugby, jumping into or over a tackle is almost always classified under "Dangerous Play." If you look at the rulebook—specifically Law 9, which covers foul play—the core idea is that players shouldn't do anything that is dangerous to others.
When you hurdle someone, you're basically turning your feet into flying projectiles. Imagine you're a defender coming in for a tackle and the guy with the ball decides to jump. Suddenly, instead of a shoulder-to-hip contact, you've got a pair of metal or plastic studs flying toward your face or neck. It's a recipe for a serious injury.
Because of this, referees are trained to penalize anyone who leaves their feet to "hurdle" a tackler. It's not just about the feet, either. When you're in the air, you have zero control over your body. If the tackler hits you while you're mid-flight, you're likely to flip, land on your head, or cause a massive collision that leaves everyone worse for wear.
The Difference Between a Hurdle and a Step
Now, there's a bit of a gray area that confuses a lot of fans. You might see a player like Cheslin Kolbe or Damian McKenzie do a little "hop" or a "skip" as they're changing direction. Is that a hurdle? Technically, no.
Referees distinguish between a "jump" and a "step." A player is allowed to leave the ground slightly as part of a running motion or a sidestep. The problem starts when the feet are lifted significantly off the ground to clear a player's body. If the referee thinks you're trying to leap over a defender to avoid a tackle, they'll blow the whistle immediately.
The rule is basically there to prevent people from trying to be Olympic high-jumpers in the middle of a contact sport. If you're upright and you jump into a defender, you're the one creating the danger.
Jumping to Catch the Ball: The Big Exception
So, if jumping is so dangerous, why are players allowed to launch themselves into the air to catch a high ball? This is the one big "loophole" where being in the air is actually protected.
When two players are competing for a kick, they're both allowed to jump. In this scenario, the rules actually flip—the player who stays on the ground has to be careful not to undercut the player in the air. If you tackle a player while their feet are off the ground catching a ball, you're the one getting the red card.
But even here, you can't use your legs as a shield. You'll often see players bring a knee up to protect themselves while jumping for a catch. Referees watch this like hawks. If that knee is deemed to be "leading" or used to strike an opponent, it's a penalty. The distinction is all about intent and safety. You can jump to catch, but you can't jump to hurdle a person who is trying to mark you.
What Happens if You Actually Do It?
Let's say you're in a game, the adrenaline is pumping, and you decide to channel your inner track star. You see a defender diving low, and you hurdle right over them. What happens next?
Usually, the ref will blow for a penalty against you for dangerous play. Depending on how high you jumped and where your feet landed, you might even find yourself sitting on the sidelines for ten minutes. If your studs make contact with the defender's head or upper body, you're looking at a straight red card and a date with a disciplinary committee.
The reason it's policed so strictly is that rugby is a game built on "predictable" contact. When you're tackling, you expect the other person to be on the ground. When they suddenly disappear into the air, the tackle height becomes impossible to manage, and heads start colliding with knees. It's just a mess that World Rugby wants to avoid at all costs.
Is It Different in Rugby 7s?
You might notice more "acrobatic" moves in Rugby 7s. Because there's so much more space on the field, players are often moving at much higher speeds and find themselves in one-on-one situations more often.
However, the laws of the game are technically the same. You still can't hurdle a player in 7s. What you will see is players jumping over a player who is already lying on the ground. This is perfectly legal. If a player has already been tackled and is just a "speed bump" on the grass, you can hop over them to keep your momentum. The "hurdling" ban specifically applies to jumping over a player who is actively trying to tackle you or who is in an upright/semi-upright position.
The Risk to the Ball Carrier
Aside from the rules, there's a very practical reason why most coaches tell you not to hurdle: it's a terrible way to keep possession.
When you're in the air, you are incredibly vulnerable. A defender doesn't even have to tackle you hard to ruin your day; a simple nudge can send you spinning. Once you lose your balance in the air, you can't "brace" for the impact with the ground. We've seen plenty of players try a flashy jump only to land awkwardly on their shoulder or neck, ending their season in a split second.
Plus, it's much harder to protect the ball when you're mid-air. Your arms tend to flail a bit for balance, leaving the ball exposed. A savvy defender will just strip the ball away while you're busy trying to figure out how to land.
Why Do We Still See It?
If it's illegal and dangerous, why does it still happen in professional matches occasionally? Sometimes, it's just a reflex. If a player is sprinting at full tilt and someone dives right at their ankles, jumping is a natural human instinct to avoid a trip.
In these cases, referees often use their discretion. If the "hurdle" was clearly an instinctive move to avoid a trip and no one was put in danger, the ref might just let play go on or give a quick warning. But if it looks intentional—like the player was looking for a "cool" way to bypass the defense—the whistle is coming out.
Better Alternatives to Hurdling
If you're looking to get past a defender who is going low, you're much better off working on your footwork than your vertical leap. A good sidestep or a dead-leg move is infinitely more effective and 100% legal.
The goal of a sidestep is to make the defender commit to a space you're no longer in. If they're diving low for your ankles, a sharp cut to the left or right will leave them grasping at air while you keep both feet firmly on the turf, ready to accelerate. It's safer, it keeps you in control, and it doesn't risk a penalty.
At the End of the Day
Rugby is a game of contact, but it's also a game of controlled aggression. The rules against hurdling might feel like they're "sucking the fun out of the game," but they're there for a reason. Keeping players on the ground ensures that tackles stay at a safe height and that nobody takes a stray boot to the face.
So, the next time you're on the pitch and you see that defender lining up a low shot, resist the urge to fly. Stick to the ground, use your footwork, and keep the ref on your side. After all, you can't score points from the sin bin!