There are several aspects to that hit which would make it illegal (and unlikely) in rugby. The first is the time of contact. It isn't clear from the video whether or not the hit came before the receiver touched the ball. If you don't have the ball in rugby, then a defender cannot (generally) make contact. Also, in rugby -- the more popular Union variety anyway -- you must hit with the shoulder only and make some attempt to wrap your opponent. It appears that the defender led with his head -- something which rugby players don't do, at least not more than once, seeing as they don't wear helmets -- and there was not attempt to wrap. That hit would probably draw at least a yellow card in a rugby match, and quite possibly a red. But there is another aspect to this. That receiver was focused on the pass, in an extremely awkward extended position and was effectively "blindsided" by his opponent. That certainly contributed to its violence. However, the nature of rugby's offside law, and the fact that balls aren't passed forward make these type of hits extremely unlikely. Generally the ball carrier knows exactly what is coming, and can prepare himself better to absorb the hit. Of course rugby presents other challenges to its players -- like he prospect of going 80 minutes non-stop with no substitutions and no break in the play atter every tackle. As a result the players will cover a minimum of 10K over the course of a match, with each side making three to four times as many tackles as would it's girdiron equivilent. Not many gridiron players would be capable of that.
i was sent off for a tackle like that
i believe it would be illegal, the player who got hit didn't have the ball yet when he was hit which is illegal in rugby
