A spear tackle is an illegal tackle in rugby union, rugby league and Australian rules football in which a player lifts another player into the air and drops them so that they land on their back, head or neck.[1] Spear tackles have caused serious injury[2] including spinal damage, dislocations,[3] broken bones in the shoulder or neck, and death.[4][5] Due to the dangers, players executing a spear tackle in these sports are punished severely.