“Any form of behaviour directed toward the goal of harming or injuring another living being who is motivated to avoid such treatment.”
This definition raises several points:
- Aggression is behaviour. Thinking negative thoughts or being angry is not aggression.
- Aggression is intentional behaviour. Accidental harm is not aggression. The idea of intent is usually interpreted by the referee.
- Aggression involves harm or injury. This may be physical, but could be psychological, such as trying to embarrass an opponent.
- Aggression involves living beings. Kicking your dog is aggression, but kicking a chair is not.
So in simple terms, aggression is where there is intent to harm, and as far as Rugby is concerned, this must be outside the rules of the game.