Sixtackle

Sixtackle is a term used in sports analytics and rugby league discourse to refer to the six-tackle sequence that governs possession. In rugby league, a team is allowed up to six tackles within a single set before possession is surrendered or a kick is made. The shorthand sixtackle appears in some data feeds and commentary to denote statistics or events associated with that sequence, such as the number of tackles completed within a set, the pace of a defensive stand, or how often a team maintains or loses possession during the six-tackle cycle.

In practice, sixtackle data is used by coaches and analysts to assess defensive pressure, set-piece effectiveness, and decision-making under fatigue. It can be captured through manual event logging or automated tracking systems. Sixtackle is not universally formalized as an official statistic across all leagues, and labeling can vary by data provider. Interpreting sixtackle metrics typically requires context from other data points, such as territory, outcomes of the set (advancement, error, turnover), and the sequence’s end result.

Relationship to other terms: The six-tackle rule is a core element of rugby league, and sixtackle serves as a derivative term used primarily in analytics and broadcasting to summarize aspects of that rule-based sequence. See also rugby league, six-tackle rule, tackle.