Welcome to the 'Frequently Asked Questions' page of the Crash Tackle web site. Here you will find a selection of the common questions Crash Tackle players ask with an explanation from the CT Team.

Should you have a question that is not answered This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and we'll help you out!

GENERAL

In rugby and Crash Tackle who is the 'attacking' side?
The attacking side is the team that has possesion of the ball.

In rugby and Crash Tackle who is the 'defending' side?
The defending side is the team that does not have possesion of the ball.

If Team A scores. Does the restart happen in Team B's turn?
Team A’s turn ends when they score the try and attempt the conversion. Team B's turn starts there turn with the restart (kickoff).

If my ball carrier is tackled when over the tryline is the try still scored?
YES. The try is scored. However if the player is tackled on a space containing the tryline then a TMO (Television match official) roll must be made.

If I fail a dice roll can I still turn my Grounded players to their feet?
YES. Grounded player stand up at the end of your turn. Failing a dice roll ends your turn.

Can a try be scored on top of a grounded player?
NO. A player can not end his turn on top of a grounded player and as try would technically end the turn this is not allowed.

On the rugby field hexes that are split in half by the try lines, are these spaces considered within the in-goal area?
YES. However, scoring on these spaces will require a TMO (Television match official) roll to determine iff the try is scored.

On the rugby field, hexes that are split in half by the 22m lines, are these spaces considered part of the 22m area?
YES.

What if I want to do something not specifically covered in the Crash Tackle rulebook?
Crash Tackle is able to mimic most real rugby union situations, so if there is a debate simply think of how a real game of rugby would be played and apply this to the Crash Tackle board game. Or email us and we'll offer some advice.

MOVEMENT

Can I move my player onto a grounded player and attempt to gather the ball from there?
NO. You are allowed to Move over grounded players but you can not end your turn standing ontop of one. In this situation the fact that you may fail the Gather roll could mean that you end your turn ontop of that grounded player. It is therefor not allowed.

Refering to the above question. If I had a Safe Hands card could I stand on top of a Grounded player and gather the ball before moving away?
YES. As long as your player is able to Move off of the grounded player after Gathering, then this would be perfectly legal..

If I move a player, i.e. a forward, 3 spaces and then I move another player can I still move that forward his remaining 2 spaces?
NO. If you move a player and then move another, you can not return to the previous player and finish moves he had left over. Unused moves are lost.

Can a player move over or stand on the space occupied by the rugby pole?
NO. A player can not move through or onto the space occupied by the pole uprights. He CAN move through or onto the spaces occupied by the crossbar.

GATHERING THE BALL

If a situation occurs where neither team can legally Gather the ball, how do we resolve it?
Although rare, this situation may occur. If the ball can not be legally Gathered then a Scrum must be awarded to the defending* team on the spot where the ball is.

*the team that does not have the ball.

If my scrumhalf (no.9) gathers can he move before using his 'free' pass?
NO. He must use his 'free' pass immediately after gathering the ball. If he moves first he will have to roll the dice as usual to make the pass.

How often can I Gather the ball in my turn?
You can Gather the ball as often as you like in your turn as long as you do not fail the dice roll.

KICKING THE BALL

Surely if I score under the posts the conversion kick should be a lot easier?
YES. Scoring on the target spot under the posts means you automatically get the conversion kick!

If I kick the ball must I place the ball 10 spaces or can place it closer spaces if I want?
You can kick the ball up to 10 spaces so you can place it anywhere from 1 to 10 spaces away. If you are using the Advanced Rules then remember some of you're players can use cards to kick a lot further!

In a kick-off, if I kick the ball on and empty space. Can I move a player in the space under the ball? In this case, in my opponents turn, can my player gather the ball, like in the mis-kick rule?
NO. You can not place your player under the ball if you kick the ball.

I’m still not sure how to face the card for a miskick. Is it toward the kicker’s tryline or the opposition?
If the opposition miskicks, then you draw the top card and face it towards the opposition tryline.

PASSING THE BALL

Can the ball be Passed or 'Flip Passed' to an empty space?
NO. A Pass must be made to a team mate.

If your Scrumhalf gathers the ball and is immediately tackled, can he still make his 'free' pass?
NO. He is considered to be wrapped up in the tackle and so unable to get the pass away.

I have a doubt about the ball pass rule. Where will be the ball placed if you miss the dice roll?
The ball stays on the player who had the ball - So if number 10 was going to pass to number 12 and he fails the dice roll, then the ball satys on number 10 and your turn ends.

When can I pass?
In your turn you can pass at any time. This can be before, after or during a players movement. A player can move a few spaces, pass and then complete his move. It is also possible for a player to move, receive a pass, and then continue his movement.

TACKLING

If I have the ball and I am tackled while in my dead ball area is the ball considered to be touched down?
YES. If you carried the ball into the Dead Ball area you opponents are awarded a 5m scrum. If you received the ball from within the dead ball area you awarded a 22m Drop Out.

If my player is tackled can he still pass the ball?
NO. The tackle is considered to occur immediately and your player is wrapped up in the tackle and can not get the pass away. The only exception to this rule may be the use of a Pressure Play card.

If I have the ball can I be tackled in my opponents turn?
NO. If you have the ball then tackling will only happen in your turn. The best your opponent can do in his turn is position his players next to yours and force the tackle when your turn starts. An excepetion to this would be foul play like a Dangerous Tackle.

FOUL PLAY

What happens if I have a player (with the ball) on my opponents tryline and he is hit with a Dangerous Tackle from my opponent?
As normal both players are grounded and a referee roll is made for the Dangerous tackle. A TMO roll must also be made to see if the try has been scored.

If I am awarded a penalty after the full time siren has sounded, can I still take the penalty?
YES. You may choose to kick at poles if within range, take a scrum or kick for touch and receive the Line-out throw-in!

If my opponent performs a Dangerous Tackle on my player, can my player use a 'Hand-Off' card to negate the tackle?
NO. The 'Hand-Off' card can only be used in your turn as described on the card. The Dangerouds Tackle can only occur during your opponents turn. It is assumed that your player is not expecting such an underhanded tackle and therefor unable to hand it off.

PRESSURE PLAY CARDS

Can I use the 'Cool Catch' card when the opponent kicks off?
YES. If the ball fails to land over the 10m line after playing the card, then a scrum is awarded to your team on the centre spot. Remember you can also play advantage!

How many cards can I use at a time?
As many as you like. For example you could use 3 Breakaways, a Hand-Off and Crash Tackle card all in one go!!!

If I play advantage and make use of any Pressure Play Cards during that time do I get them back if I decide not to continue playing and settle for scrum/penalty?
NO. If you use them in whilst playing advantage then they are used for good!

Can I 'Hand-off' a tackle and then play the 'Crash Tackle' card?
YES. All the opponents in the spaces around you will be grounded as your player simply shrugs them off and remains on his feet!

If a player uses the 'Flip Pass' card are you allowed to move another player into range before the pass is made?
YES.

Can I move my player before using the 'Cool Catch' card?
YES.

Does the Feared effect still work if the feared player is grounded or offside?
NO. Grounded and offside players can not be feared!

SCRUMS

If I win the scrum and I place the ball on the scrum half (no.9), does he get the free pass?
NO. Technically he has not rolled for the Gather and therefor does not get the free pass.

With scrums, does the ball automatically go to the 9 to the winning team?
The ball can be placed on the 9 or 8. Winners choice.

With scrums, who sets up first?
The attacking side sets up first. That is the side who is awarded the scrum.

Is the 9 the only player that can gather from a ruck? If so, what if he’s grounded in the ruck?
Any player can gather from a ruck. No. 9 is the only player with the special gather ability at the ruck. Remember you can also roll away at the ruck to clear space for a player if needed.

LINEOUTS

With line outs, who sets up first?
The attacking side sets up first. So the side who is awarded the line out.

Can the Smooth Pass be used to throw the ball into the Line-out?
NO.

Can my player run into touch with the ball?
YES, but the opposition will receive a line out on the space where he crosses the touch line.

So you're interested in Crash Tackle, the rugby board game, but you're unsure of what to buy? No problem, we'll guide you to the perfect products to get your Crash Tackle coaching career going!

Simply read our advice under the heading that relates most to your needs!

I have never owned the board game Crash Tackle.

No problem. We have three options available for you…

The Boxed set: 

The Crash Tackle Boxed set has everything you need to play the board game. Although 'Add-on' items are available, they are not essential to the game - The Boxed set is all you need!

The Unboxed Set:

The Crash Tackle Unboxed set also has everything you need to play the board game, but it will arrive without the physical box. Removing the box reduces the production cost as well as the postage for those on a budget.

The Print & Play: 

The Crash Tackle Print and Play is a downloadable collection of printable PDF’s that allow board game enthusiasts the option to produce the game themselves instead of purchasing a professionally printed copy.

This allows you to try out the game at a fraction of the cost before deciding to buy the printed version! 

As a bonus the Print & Play version comes with a $4.99 voucher redeemable against the physical game should you decide to buy it!

Visit our Store!

I have the Print & Play version and would like to upgrade with some physical products.

What you have managed to produce yourself will determine your needs, but here are some suggestions.

Pressure Play Card Deck (Orginal Game Deck)

This product contains the original 36 cards found in the Crash Tackle boxed set.

Game Markers

This product contains the original 108 Game Markers found in the Crash Tackle boxed set. Although not essential, they are useful to keep track of specific situations and events during the game.

Team Packs

The Team backs contain 15 double-sided illustrated Player Markers. A choice of 12 Teams is available. You will need 2 teams to play Crash Tackle.

Visit our Store!

I own an old copy of Crash Tackle - can I still use it?

Wow! Firstly thank you for supporting our game for so long. The old copies of Crash Tackle are hard to come by! You have a gem there!

And YES, you can still use your old copy. You just need the following…

The Training Guide (Rule Book)

The new rules for Crash Tackle have been modified with some fantastic new and exciting rules and are essential to the gameplay of the latest version. Luckily the new Crash Tackle Rugby Rules are available as a free download here! Please enjoy!

Download the rules for Free!

Pressure Play Card Deck (Orginal Game Deck)

This product contains the original 36 cards found in the Crash Tackle boxed set. These cards differ dramatically from the old versions of Crash Tackle and would be essential for the new rules.

Game Markers

This product contains the original 108 Game Markers found in the Crash Tackle boxed set. Although not essential, they are useful to keep track of specific situations and events during the game.

The Field

Your current field will be fine to play on, it may look different or have a few slightly adjusted field markings etc, but ultimately it shouldn't be an issue at all.

We will release more fields for sale soon.

The Print & Play: 

The Crash Tackle Print and Play is a downloadable collection of printable PDF’s that allow board game enthusiasts the option to produce the game themselves instead of purchasing a professionally printed copy.

This may prove useful as it will allow you to print and test the elements before deciding to buy the physical products!

As a bonus the Print & Play version comes with a $4.99 voucher redeemable against the physical game should you decide to buy it!

Visit our Store!

A recent article by Stacey Henley on dicebreaker.com ranks Crash Tackle in the top 10 sports board games for 2021! And we're in great company...

Check out the rest of the article - Click here!

In this video we see how the rucks work in Crash Tackle the rugby board game!

If the rugby world cup has you fixed to the TV in a partner/wife enraging trance, or if your curiosity in the game has been peaked by seeing 30 grown, large and unpadded men hurling themselves at each other in abandon then fear no more – when the final whistle blows on the final match and you find yourself with rugby withdrawal symptoms there is something waiting on the sideline to fill the gap and it's a rugby board game called CRASH TACKLE.

I'd just finished writing a set of rules for American Football based on the mechanics used by Ed from the Two Hour Wargame stable when a friend suggested we adapt them to use for rugby. After a while of testing these I thought it may be worthwhile actually publishing them (even just through Wargames Journal) as to be honest they were working well and 'felt' like rugby, they took a while and you would probably have to be an avid fan to follow all the intricacies, but they worked well. I decided to look up if there was anything similar and came across Crash Tackle. Being made in South Africa the exchange rate made the game very reasonable and I thought even if I didn't get to play it much it may have some ideas to help out with my set so I sent off for a box. It arrived shortly after ... and out off the virtual window went my rules, I hear you ask ... why?

Basically Crash Tackle does everything I was trying to achieve but in a quicker more enjoyable way and a way that is far more accessible to people who are not BIG rugby followers or players. Plus it is all there in a box with excellent support and supplemental material on their web site, Facebook Page and Youtube Channel.

I am loath to call the game a board game – of course it is but let me explain what I mean. Although it is played on a board with dice and cards it is far more like a hybrid miniatures skirmish wargame than a traditional board game. The players are individual with their own statistics, which at a more complex level of the game can be 'tweaked' to give individual characteristics – you want a fly-half who plays like Johnny W. – well you can have one! The players activate as individuals and can do certain actions within their game turn – all of which will sound familiar to wargamers and not so much to sport board gamers who usually deal with the 'big picture' on the pitch, not individuals.

The core mechanics and rules are elegantly simple and can be picked up, even by non gamers, very quickly. If you have a knowledge of rugby you will be playing a 'realistic feeling' game in no time. Beginners to the intricacies of rugby rule wise will pick up the mechanics but need coaching through the 'why you can't do that' and 'it may be best to do xx' by someone that does. But saying that my daughter who likes to watch but didn't really 'follow' what was going on picked it up within one game and has since says that watching a match on TV makes much more sense. My younger daughter who has just started University was so impressed she went and joined the womens' rugby club even though she had showed little interest all her life!

The board is your standard pitch with a hex overlay, made of thick card the graphics are great eight pieces make up the large pitch which is just the right size for the coffee table. Players may move so many hexes in their turn and also perform actions - 'gather' (the term used to cover every means of getting the ball into your hands, ranging from catching, picking it up and getting it from a ruck or maul situation), pass or kick the ball. You can move all your players in your turn (so long as nothing goes wrong) and then play passes to the other team. Any of the actions you attempt are rolled against your players ball skill (a figure of 5-9 depending on the position of the player) where you must roll equal to or under to be successful. But if you roll over then your player 'hesitates' and play passes to the other side, on a double 6 something bad happens. This depends on what you are trying to do but includes a 'knock on' etc. this means you must plan your move carefully, you can be all gung ho and attack orientated but fail the first pass and you are left open etc. All this is relatively simple mechanic wise and the authors have kept tackling simple too. Basically all players have a tackle zone around them, move into it and you are tackled, if the opponent moves next to you then you are tackled at the start of your next phase. Once tackled you are 'grounded' and the ball has to be 'gathered'.

Now all this would turn into a slightly boring game reminiscent of chess on a hex board if it wasn't for one thing – the Pressure Cards. This is a set of cards, you get two to start with, pick one up a turn and can play as many as you like in a turn. These are the real engine of the game and inspired in their content. They range from 'hand off' (which makes you ignore the tackle) and flip pass (so you unload as you are tackled) which make your opponent groan as he tackles you, to cards which add extra hexes to your move, make a kick a miskick (especially painful as you go to relieve pressure) etc etc. As coach you choose how you want to play, save the cards up and use them to make an innocuous phase of play into a game breaker, but risk the opponent playing the 'pressure play' card, which makes you throw all your cards in! Or play the odd card each turn to keep the pressure on at a low level – play the odds.

The simple mechanics (supported by the 'advanced rules' found on the site which adds the detail real rugby freaks will want) means all levels of players can enjoy the game, the game play after the learning curve is very fast and the cards keep the game 'unpredictable'. The game plays in 'real time' once you are used to it (the authors suggest an hour a half to start with) and while you do not get the same number of phases as in a real game it is close enough to feel 'real'. Which brings us to the real crux – does the game reflect the 'real on field' action? In a word ... YES it does, you can choose how you want to play the game. The same tactics you would use as a coach will work on the field and it all 'feels right', you are in charge! Now I'm off to play a quarter final against Australia (my daughter was born in Australia and her mum is cheering her on), planning on using our 'Johnny' to keep putting those high balls up and maybe even slot some drop goals for good measure!

All I can say is that if you have any passing interest in rugby and enjoy playing games then you MUST get this game!

Rich Jones

The modern game is all about running rugby. The carry. The hard yards. The slick hands. It’s what we rugby fans love. It’s what lifts us from our seats. It’s what we talk about for years. And what we post to youtube.

It’s Brad Thorn. It’s Manu Tuilagi. It’s Jonah Lomu.

Yet the greatest carry of them all isn't on youtube and never will be!

It took place long before youtube. Long before the moving picture. Long before you and I.

It took place on an autumn day in 1823- the very moment the game of rugby was born. Not by a towering athlete, but by a 16 year old boy named William Web Ellis who’s desire to pick up and carry a football made him a legend.

Now as the Rugby World Cup fast approaches and the relevance of this great moment in history gains momentum, the power houses of world rugby ready themselves for battle. And as they battle, they will carry that ball with all their might in the hope that, at the end of it all, they may have the honour of what would surely be their finest carry - the Webb Ellis Trophy!