In rugby union, a dominant tackle is when the defender makes contact with the ball carrier and drives them back in one movement. This is judged to be good technique and rewards the defender with extra time before the attacker must be released to be allowed to play-the-ball. The dominant tackle call is often made by the referee to indicate the dominance of the defender over the attacking player in possession during the contact between them at the tackle. A dominant tackle can also refer to winning the contact, which is when the ball carrier is driven back behind the gain line or offside line. Good technique is essential to making a dominant tackle, and players can work on improving their technique to become more effective tacklers.