Rugby: Breakdown Touch

Both players jog out at the same time. When the players meet the red player tackle the white player and then both players get back to their feet and jog to the back of their lines before the drill continues.

Start the session with a game of single Tag rugby.

1. Crocodile roll  Crocodile roll is one technique to repmove threats from a breakdown. Most useful for smaller players to move larger ones.  Require control, power, accuracy. Identify if croc roll is the right technique to use.  Target the defenders upperback/lower neck region.  Initate the clear out by big shoulder contact into that area, set feet wide, then bearhug the defender  Use momentum and rotate hips downwards, maintain strong grip and roll palyer off the ball.  Finish movement on top of player and compete for ball.  2. Smash  If player is slow to attack ball smash may be the best option. Here clear the defender out the way and remove the threat using normal rucking technique. 

Basic tackling skills. Tackler to start in a low position. Tackler to position their head behind the player, squeeze their arms around the player an drive in forward off their knees.

Groups of 3/4 1 Tackle Sausage. 1 Tackle bag.    1. Tackle Bag conditioning. Players align 6m apart, one side with tackle sausage. Work for 1 min constantly tackling and carrying sausage back and forth with partners.  2. Tackle and Roll conditioning.  Same as before but introduce roll after making the hit. Roll with bag to escpae collision area. then same as before, pick up the sausage and run. 3. Add Defender A 3rd player is introduced, holding Tackle bag who acts as a attacker clearing out the ruck. The Defender must bounce up and clear the tackle bag player coming over the ball, then same as before.  4. Tackle, Roll, Clear  All 4 stages togther now, adding a roll in before clearing out the attakcing player with tackle bag.     

The aim of the drill is to encourage the tackler to challenge for the ball after the tackle with a supporting player (+1) to clamp on his inside to reenforce the contest.

2 sausages 1 bag  1 ball  Step 1 - Low chop tackle on the sausage.  Step 2 - Bounce! Track back, chest to floor, do a high.impact bag hit.  Step 3 - Run around the bag, pass the ball of the floor, complete a live leg tackle on the attacking player. Next player starts when first player finishes. 

The aim of the drill is to encouragement the tackler and a supporting player (+1) challenge for the space on the tackle.

The aim of the drill is to encourage the tackler to roll away from the tackle and get back on to his feet. 

Contact Defence The aim of the drill is to encourage the tackler to challenge for the space over the ball after the tackle.

2 Teams  Ball  Bibs  Tackle touch is a contact game that focuses on technique rather than the power of the contact.  The game is a normal game of touch, however when a touch is made, both ball carrier and defender put their chests to the floor.  They then bounce back up, for the defender to make a low chop tackle.  This takes out alot of the power of the colision and means the defender can focus more on technique. 

Sausage  Cones After you have completed the bounce motion, you can bounce and fire.  Fire - is by any means effect there breakdown and slow the ball down - when you realise you cant steal the ball.  Jackal - stay on and win the ball over the break down.   Players line up on the cones  the first play makes a tackle on the sausage get s up and becomes the defender. (jackal) the second player listens to the coloured cone the coach shouts and goes around that cone before trying to clear the (jackaler)  The jackaler makes the decion to Jackle or Fire through the break down depending on the speed of the arriving defender. 

4 players +  cones  ball.  Cones laid out on 5m chanel other 10 chanel.  3 Players line up passing ball up and down the line, when coach says now they pass it to the player stood opposite in the 5m chanel.  The player then attacks down the 5m chanel. The player opposite makes a chop tackle, bounces and competes. for the ball. (Tackler becomes clearer). The 2 other players then try to clear the player off the ball. Decinign whether to fire or steal ball depedning of spped of clearer off the floor.   

The players in their groups of 3 stand between the lines of the inner square with the working group stood inside the other players. The first group of 3 begins by running across the grid passing the ball. When they reach the centre the ball is put down an they then run at the players with the pads (on their left) each pushing their player to the outer square. The players then swap. The pad players run across to the tackle bags and push and tackle the bags to the outer square. Players swap again now the new 3 players (third group) run to the ball pick it up and take the ball turn right to face the 3 players on the 12 o'clock side of the square and run into contact for the ball carrier to present the ball. This ball is then picked up by the 3 players being pushed back and the drill starts again. Keep the tempo of this exercise high. Note: You can change the position of each activity within the training area - but that will impact on the instructions to coaches. Players can basically go in any direction, but they do need to communicate and work as a unit. Don't get to hung up on where players should be going, or in what order.

Groups of 3  Ball One Player lies in a Long placement on the floor.  Another player (Jackaler) comes over the top of the player, to compete for ball.  Another player pushes, pulls and tries to make the player off balance. 

This is the first exercise in a series of three that can be put together to form a contact conditioning circuit. Alternatively, this would be a great exercise to include as part of a warm up. Your players should work in pairs. One player lays with his back on the ground and the other lays across him facing down. The player with his back on the ground has to work really hard to get back to his feet against the resistance of his partner. This exercise will develop your players core strength and ability to manipulate the body in order to get back to their feet. This drill is simulating aspects of the game such as having to roll away after making a tackle.