Rugby: Introduction to defensive systems

Develop the aggressive Blitz defending style in you game and don’t let the opposition get comfortable on the ball with this session.

Players line up together along the line of the 1st set of cones.

On the signal of the coach all the players advance to the 3rd set of cones (20 meters away), making sure they all keep together in a straight line.

The players then retreat 10 meters to the 2nd set of cones, making sure they stay in line.

From the 2nd set of cones the players then advance a further 20 metres to the 4th set of cones and then retreat 10 meters back, to the previous set of cones.

Set up 4 grids of about 8-10m by 5m.

3 players start on the first grid, working from one end to the other, covering the 5m distance.

• The aim is to stay in one straight line as they go up, and also keep themselves evenly spaced
• Once they have achieved that, they fall back into the next grid diagonally across and back. Now there should be 6 players on the line, and they all work together to come off the line, as one.

Players continue working like this, until they reach the end of the grid.

Once the coach blows his whistle the line may press off.

• Get all players into teams of 3
• One group of 3 with bibs start as defenders 
• In a 10mx10m grid - the other groups line up either side of the grid as attackers. Split evenly.
• The defenders work together to stop the attacking side scoring and getting through 
• After a tackle is made or a try is scored, the attacking team pop the ball off to a team on the other side of the grid who attack straight away
• Defending side need to react and realign quickly to stop the next team from scoring
• Start as shoulder on and then can progress to full contact
• Defence works for 1 minute and then change
• Competition - Team with the least tries scored against them wins

1. Defensive Organisation 

4 Defenders line up on the the cones. 

When coach goes to pass the ball, when hands are on the defenders get line speed, making lots of noise and staying connected. 

After each rep the players move along the cones back trackign until the reach the end, this is continuous. 

2. 3 v 2 

In a 5mx5m grid, 3 attackers attack 2 defenders.

Same focus on the defence on when to drift or make the takle on attackers.

Lots of communcitaion and line speed is key. 

3. Kick out touch- Reduced Defence. 

A defending player kicks the ball from the back of the pithc to attacking team.

 Attacking team has more players than defensive system to induce a counter attack situation.

 Players will learn to fill space with fewer numbers aswell as being a good attacking practice identifying space and overlaps.