Rugby: the ruck

the ruck DRILLS
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Flip It

Be brief when telling the players the laws of this game, it's important to get them moving quickly. This is not a contact game. Break your players into two teams, giving each team their own colour of bibs if necessary. One team goes to attack, and one to defence. Nominate a Scrum Half for each team. There is no kicking in this game. Normal laws of rugby apply e.g. a forward pass will result in the ball being turned over to the opposition. If an attacking player is touched: they must go to ground, present the ball, two of their teammates ruck over (staying over the ball), and the Scrum Half moves the ball for the next phase of attack. When you start playing this game make sure that the defence is employing your defensive pattern around the ruck. As the game develops consider telling the defenders that they must have one or more players at the back of the ruck, if they are not fast enough to do this - push them back 10 meters. It’s important that defenders are employing their defensive pattern behind the primary defensive line. Have attacking players do what they normally would at the ruck. Depending on your goals decide on the number of touches you wish to allow e.g. unlimited is not a bad option as mistakes will be made! When you feel the time is appropriate, usually during a ruck, blow you whistle and should FLIP IT – kicking in or throwing in a second ball to the back 3/2 defenders on the team currently in defence OR just kick it behind the defenders. The defensive team goes, without hesitation, into attack. The team that was attacking goes into defence and you or an assistant coach remove the other ball from play when you can. Ideally you might have two balls with different markings. Don't hesitate to shape the game to focus on your session goals, and let us and other coaches know what worked for you!

Warm Up

Living On The Edge

Split the players into two teams, giving each team their own set of bibs. Two different colours that clearly define the teams. Keep your player briefing, brief. It's important that you get your players moving as quickly as possible. Tell the players that we will be playing One Touch Ruck, see the laws surrounding this game in the Warm-Ups section of the SportPlan site. Briefly - when an attacking player is touched while carrying the ball: they go to ground and either pop or present the ball for a minimum of two supporting players to ruck over. The defence should behave as they normally would at the ruck, committing two players who will not compete for the ball or go into contact. The defence should employ their normal patterns around the ruck. The attacking team can have three touches in a row between the 15 meter lines, if they move the ball to the either of the 15 meter channels they can have another four touches in that channel before having to move the ball back out. If the attacking team moves quickly from one 15 meter channel to the other (exploiting space), they get a bonus of 4 touches in that zone. If any attacking team exceeds the number of touches they can sustain inside a channel, the ball is turned over. Play with these laws a bit - keeping an eye on what you want to achieve in this session. The normal laws of rugby apply, any law infringements result in a turn over. There is no kicking in this game. Don't forget to give the defence a turn in attack, if for any reason the attacking team is particularly good at retaining the ball. If they are, well done you as a coach!

Warm Up

Maul Touch

Be brief when telling the players the laws of this game, it's important to get them moving quickly. This is not a contact game, but there will be some light contact. Break your players into two teams, giving each team their own colour of bibs if necessary. One team goes to attack, and one to defence. Nominate a Scrum Half for each team, it will be their job to move the ball from the back of the maul and out to an attacking line. There is no kicking in this game. Normal laws of rugby apply e.g. a forward pass will result in the ball being turned over to the opposition. If an attacking player is touched: they must stop and turn, a maul is then built based on how you have trained your players to Maul. Only four players should be in the maul - but every player should be able to maul - including the backs! When you start playing this game make sure that the defence is employing your defensive pattern around the maul. They will commit 4 players, but will not do anything more than provide light resistance. Once formed the maul can take four steps before moving the ball. If there is a delay in creating the maul, or the quality of the maul is poor - the ball can be turned over. Depending on your goals decide on the number of touches you wish to allow e.g. unlimited is not a bad option as mistakes will be made! If a team has been in possession for a long time, don't forget to turn the ball over to give the opposition a run. Don't hesitate to shape the game to focus on your session goals, and let us and other coaches know what worked for you.

Warm Up

Scoring Zones

Be brief when telling the players the laws of this game, it's important to get them moving quickly. This is not a contact game. Break your players into two teams, giving each team their own colour of bibs if necessary. One team goes to attack, and one to defense. Nominate a Scrum Half for each team. There is no kicking in this game. Normal laws of rugby apply e.g. a forward pass will result in the ball being turned over to the opposition. If an attacking player is touched: they must go to ground, present the ball, two of their teammates ruck over (staying over the ball), and the Scrum Half moves the ball for the next phase of attack.The defence must commit three players to every ruck, or risk an infringement which will see tem pushed back ten meters. The ball must be moved from the ruck within 5 seconds. Make sure that the defense is employing your defensive pattern around the ruck.  Throughout the game the coach call the point of attack e,g, attack RED ZONE or Zone 2. The coach can also call the scoring zone, Score At Zone Yellow or Zone 3. As the game progresses have the players call the point of attack, and the scoring zones - but they must do this early and they must committ to that attack for a period of time. Have attacking players do what they normally would at the ruck. Depending on your goals decide on the number of touches you wish to allow e.g. unlimited is not a bad option as mistakes will be made! On a mistake or after a period of time, turn the ball over so that both teams get time in attack and defence. Don't hesitate to shape the game to focus on your session goals, and let us and other coaches know what worked for you!

Warm Up

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the ruck SESSIONS
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the ruck ANSWERS
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My fowards seem afraid to ruck...

My fowards seem afraid to ruck and stand around the ruck while in the way of the scrum half trying to get the ball out to the backs. They also don't support the ball carrier while he is being tackled. Please help me with any suggestions!!!

William Barrett Coach, United States of America

Scrum half approach to the ruc...

I'm a new player trying to learn to play Scrum half. I have a general idea of how the game works having played back positions a few times. However, I'm confused about one thing (and this might be dumb but bear with me). The thing is, I'm pretty quick. I can usually make it to a ruck before the forwards have fully formed it. When this happens I don't really have a good sense of where to stand in order ot have good access to the ball but also avoid blocking other forwards coming in to ruck.  Usually I've already surveyed the field (to my newbie abilities anyway) and made a decision as to what I want to do with the ball, yelled the call on my way to the ruck, etc, so that puts me in a mindset that I REALLY want to be close to the ball so I can make it happen.  Should I just keep my distance instead until the ruck is fully formed? Where specifically should I be standing and how quickly should I get there? Thanks!

Archived User Coach

Rucking Problems | Sportplan

My team is having trouble going past the ball when rucking. We are working on body heights and hitting past the ball but any suggested drills would be a great help.

Ian Stenson Coach, England

Is Bridging Illegal?

Simon My son's PE teacher has told him that Bridging is lieegal for the U13 to U19 group. His Club coach has been encouraging its use in games for two seasons. I can see some of the dangers but also the advantages Who is right is it banned or can it be used? Paul submitted by email

Archived User Coach

Latching on in rugby to a player with a ball often happens at the base of the ruck now. When is the binding onto a player who has the ball deemed dangerous and penalisesd by a ref?

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jon jenkins Coach, Kenya

Where is the off side line when a ruck is formed

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Archived User Coach

Our under tens when they go into a ruck situation often go straight over the ball leaving it in the open. A is this ball then available to be played by any player from both teams and B if this ball is out how can we teach them to secure the ball.

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Archived User Coach

Does anyone have good drills for the ruck and how not?

Does anyone have good drills for the ruck and how not to over commit players to it, Which players do you want in the ruck when playing crash ball.

Archived User Coach

a defender that is part of the ruck?

a defender that is part of the ruck, can he take a swipe at the ball or tackle the scrumhalf once he has the ball?

Archived User Coach

Picking up the ball?

Player A tackles the opposing ball carrier (B). His teammate (C) is there to step over the tackled player from an onside position and when Player B attempts to present the ball he reaches down to pickup the placed ball while remaining on his feet. Player B trys to retain the ball because none of his teammates are there to ruck over or pick up the ball. Player C gets called for hands in a ruck. Why? I thought if on my feet and coming through the gate the ball is fair game. I can see only 2 proper/legal ways to get the ball if what I did was a penalty. Option 1 is to step over and kick the ball clear, risking a call for dangerous play, and hoping for the lucky bounce. Option 2 is to step over the carrier AND the ball and hope a teammate is there to pick up or ruck over behind me. Basically, ignoring the ball in plain site and not pick it up. I get it if there are other opposing players (other than the carrier) so a ruck is formed but not the way it happened. What is the right play?

Kevin Raymond Coach, United States of America

Are you allowed to put your hand into the ruck

Are you allowed to put your hand into the ruck

STuart Anderson Coach, Zimbabwe

I watched a semifinal allblacks vs wallabies, Pocock?

I watched a semifinal allblacks vs wallabies, Pocock was penalised twice for leaving his feet at the ruck. I can't see it on tv. What is actually the situation can be happend? Is he accidentally or his leg get stuck in ruck?

Mohd Yassin Mohd Faeez Coach, Malaysia

First time coaching U9 and U10s - anyone got any backline coaching tips?

Hi im a first time coach and is still getting the hang of how the technical details of the game works the back line is my department and whould like any help i can get to know what drills to do and anything helpfull in the backline im currently coaching for the under 9 and 10

Archived User Coach

(U11 Rugby) - How to referee the 'big lad'

I'm coaching and reffing U11 rugby and one of my players is the definitive 'big lad'. His 'strength' is his size and his power, but last weekend he didn't seem to get reffed fairly. The opposition couldn't tackle him down, one on one and when another two joined in to make a mini maul, that didn't slow him down much either. The ref then let other people join in the (one sided) struggle to tackle him down, which seemed very unfair as A) it's outside the laws of U11 rugby,, B) it makes it nigh on impossible for him to offload, C) when he is brought to ground, he has 4-5 players all over him and he got pinged for 'holding on'. He is a recent arrival to rugby and it was our first game for a couple of months, so the situation hadn't reared his head before. We are keen that he learns all of the core skills of rugby and doesn't get used as a battering ram, but after seeing a pack of hyenas trying to pull down the big fella, something just didn't seem right to me.I'd be grateful for any thoughts and opinions.

Archived User Coach

Sealing not bridging the ruck

We play a team that does not contest the ruck very often so we seal the ruck by positioning our first Rucker over the tackled player and holding on to his shirt with Wright on feet and butt down. Second guy comes in a no connects with first and seal the ball until it is removed. We have been blown up for bridging when we have no hands on ground or weight forward. Anyone have any ideas On how to explain to the ref we are sealing not bridging?? Asked using Sportplan Mobile App

gary jones Coach, United States of America

Refereeeing an U10 ruck | Spor...

As well as coaching U10 rugby, I also get to referee U10 games, under the New Rules Of Play. I feel that my refereeing of the ruck isn't as good as it could/should be. Has anyone got an easy to follow system to help them referee U10 rucks ?

Archived User Coach

Can you lift the legs when cle...

Can you lift the legs when clearing out the ruck and if so what happens if you take the player off his feet to the ground?

Archived User Coach

coaching under 9s next year, w...

Hi, I’m coaching under 9s next year which involves tackling, mauls, rucks etc. I’m after advise on what to coach first and the amount of time spent on each area. Added to this I’ve somehow become the lead coach after a couple of coaches stepped down (feeling a little under pressure!) Would anybody be willing to share any sessions so I can plan the first month or so. Cheers

Archived User Coach

Rucking - does a ruck end when...

Rucking - does a ruck end when defending players back off from contact? The "successful/unsuccessful end to a ruck" seems to infer that there are still players in contact. If they are not, does the offside line change?

Archived User Coach

Is sealing the ball at the tac...

Is sealing the ball at the tackle and ruck legal again?

Des Crowley Coach, United States of America

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