Rugby Drills

*AUDIO DESCRIPTION ON* Players sit back to back, arms interlocked and knees bent. The coach says left or right. The players must battle to pull their partner to the floor on the said side.

Get in pairs. One player starts in a plank position with a rugby ball placed under each hand trying to stay in the plank position. The other player walks around a gently nudges and pushes the player working. The work aims to stay stable on the balls.

Groups of 3. Progression. 1. Wrestling  Players link up, one arm under & one arm over each shoulder.  Players then pick a side to wrestle to, then give a count down and fight to force opposition on the side they chose to wrestle to. 2. Tackle on Knees   Each player takes turns to complete tackles on there knees.  3. You can make this fun and competitive by counting how many tackles a player completes in a certain amount of time.

Drill to practice chasing and tackling someone. Roughly 5m x 10m channel. Players lined up in two lines behind red cones. First two players run out to white cones where a coach/feeder passes one of the players the ball.  The player who receives the ball runs to try and score between the green cones, the other player tries to chase and tackle them.

Four attackers, two defenders in quite a small playing area - trying to find space. The aim is for each team of four to try to score as many 'tries' as they can consecutively. Failure to score means the team of four changes over to the next team. Touch rugby game play. Attacking four players are aiming to touch the ball down on an end line. Defenders are aiming to touch the attackers.

2 Teams. Half Pitch. Touch Game with conditions;  Attacker once touched must go down, bounce back up and drive into defender, then perform a long place.  While all defenders retreat 3m and hit the floor and bounce back up again before continuing play. 

Set up an area for a normal game of touch, with teams split evenly Play goes as normal, but when there is a touch, the ball carrier goes to ground and presents the ball The player that made the touch then gets to the floor in a press up position, as does a second attacker When both are down, they contest at the breakdown Play carries on with the same team that were in possession

8 players are lined up just outside the 22 metre line, with 3 defenders starting under the posts with the ball. One of the defenders kicks the ball towards the 22 metre line. Once they the attackers have caught the ball they have to try and score a try without being tagged/ tackled by the defence. Allow the attacking team 5 minutes to score as many tries as they can, before changing attack and defence around.

Use the diagram as a starting point for players. 10 advances carrying the ball, inviting the defence to press up on the attack. 12 and 13 advance, 13 cutting in towards the 12 and drawing their defender in. 11 loops around, planning to enter outside 13. 10 passes to 12. 12 miss passes to 11. 15 should have advanced from behind the 13 and up. 11 passes to 15. 14 provides outside support.

Use the diagram to highlight suggested starting positions. 10 advances with the ball, then cuts in. 12 advances, and cuts with 10. 13 runs towards the 10's position. 15 times a run from behind 12, just outside the 12's position. 10 dummy switches with 13, before passing to 15.

Use the diagram to highlight suggested starting positions. 10 advances with the ball. 12 advances, as does 13. 14 times a cut in towards the center of the pitch. 10 passes to 12. 12 cuts outward, and does 13. 12 gives the ball to 14 on a switch.

Use the diagram to highlight suggested starting positions. 10 is the ball carrier, advancing forward, before cutting in as shown in the diagram. 12 advances, and cut in on the same line as 10. 13 advances and cuts across 12, taking a switch pass from 10. 15 and 14 press up.

Use the diagram as a starting point for players. 10 advances carrying the ball, inviting the defence to press up on the attack. Optional, 11 could provide a decoy option. 10 passes to 12, who advances onto the ball. 10 loops around 12, decoy. 12 carries the ball forward. 13 runs a supporting line on 12, closing the space between the players. 12 miss-passes the ball behind 13 to 14. 14 advances with the ball, supported by 15.

Use the diagram as suggested starting positions, but be flexible. 10 carries the ball forward, inviting the opposition defence to press-up. 12 advances. 10 passes to 12, 11 could provide decoy or a cancel option. 15 runs forward, then runs a line support 12, hitting tight on their outside shoulder. 12 miss-passes beyond 15 to 13. Think about the other players positions, cancel options and alternatives. Players need to be flexible in attack.

Groups of 2. Everyone find some space. Stand opposite your partner. One of the players (attacker) use footwork and move arround. The other (defender), try to keep as close as they can to the moving player. The attackers claps at a point of his choice, this is when the defender makes a shoulders on contact. Low Impact. Shoulders on. 

3 attackers start at the beginning of the grid who will go up against the tackle bag first and then the person in the body suit second; these two should not stand next to each other unless you move on to the progression. At the coaches command the attackers will go into the tackle shield first with the ball carrier going to ground and the two supporters either both clearing out or one person clearing and the next picking up the ball and going into the next defender 5 metres behind who will be in a bodysuit. The ball carrier here will try to stay strong on his feet and offload to the two support runners or one of them will come in and rip the ball and offload to the support runner who will finish by crossing over the line.