5 Trevor Leota – The Wild One

There was chaos in every collision when Trevor Leota took the field. The Wasps hooker was pure, unfiltered energy — a crowd favourite who brought laughter and destruction in equal measure. Once, in a 20-minute stretch, he reportedly knocked out four opponents.

That wasn’t defence; that was demolition. Some tackles came late, all of them came hard. Rugby has never seen another quite like Leota — wild, fearless, unforgettable.

4 Jacques Burger – Namibia’s Warrior

No superstar status. No glamour. Just courage. Jacques Burger tackled as if every hit might be his last — and that’s what made him special.

At Saracens and on the world stage with Namibia, he was all heart and no hesitation. His bloodied face became a symbol of defiance, his battered nose a badge of honour. Burger didn’t just absorb punishment — he delivered it with relentless willpower. A warrior who made small nations stand tall.

3 Courtney Lawes – The Legal Wrecking Ball

Courtney Lawes’ highlight reels could double as cautionary tales for unsuspecting fly-halves. The England and Northampton stalwart, now at Brive, has been delivering bone-rattling hits for over a decade — and somehow, he’s only been penalised once for a high tackle, on debut.

That’s the secret to Lawes’ legend: not just destruction, but discipline. Towering, precise, and unerringly clean, he’s proof that you can play on the edge without crossing it.

2 Henry Tuilagi – The Powerhouse

When Henry Tuilagi entered contact, the laws of physics seemed to shift. Six-foot-four and over 120 kilograms, the Samoan juggernaut hit with a force that stopped attackers — and conversations — mid-flight.

He didn’t just meet collisions; he detonated them. Whether running the ball or hunting a carrier, Tuilagi’s presence was seismic. If raw power had a face, it would look like Henry’s.

1 Brian Lima – “The Chiropractor”

They still talk about that tackle — the 2003 Rugby World Cup hit on South Africa’s Derick Hougaard that looked more like an exorcism than a tackle. Brian Lima didn’t just bring players down; he rearranged them.

Across five World Cups for Samoa, “The Chiropractor” earned his legend through perfect timing, fearless contact, and uncompromising aggression. When Lima was on the pitch, you always knew where he was — and prayed he didn’t know where you were.

EDITORS PICKS:

Like this:

Like Loading…