Cavalry Charge Meaning in Rugby Union

A cavalry charge is an illegal and dangerous move where several players bind together before receiving a penalty kick. In this move, the attacking players start running from a distance toward the defenders before the ball is even put into play. They hit the defensive line at full speed as a massive, synchronized block of bodies. This was banned because the combined force created a high risk of serious injury for the standing defenders. Modern rules require the ball to be tapped or kicked before teammates can start their forward charge. This ensures that the defense has a fair chance to react and set themselves safely for the impact. For example, a team might try to rush forward in a line to smash into the defense from a five-metre penalty. The referee will blow the whistle to stop the play and penalize the attacking team for this dangerous tactic.