Rugby: Contact Square - Inside Clear

Ingrain correct techniques and habits into your players with this session as we focus on tackling and rucking skills.

• Set a cone 2 meters from the defensive line. This will mark where the ball will passed from (feed) preferably from a scrum half.
• Set a cone 0.5 meters each side from the mid point of the passing cone to simulate the sides of the ruck.
• Set a cone a cone 5 meters from the ruck on the defensive line. 
• 4 players start as attackers
• 3 defenders start on their stomaches on the other side of the defensive cone (ruck) and 1 player on the defensive cone 5 metres from the ruck
• The player on the 5 meter cone (defence) starts the drill by shouting ‘FOLD’ (or whatever call your team may use).
• Defenders on their stomachs get up and fold around the ruck to take up a defence position. Players fold wide first, and ensure that 2 players are close to the ruck (Guard and Body Guard).
• The player on the defensive cone bounces out (takes space in the defence line), the first player who folds takes up a position on the 5 meter defence cone (or inside the first attacking player)
• Once the defence line is set the scrum half can pass the ball.
• The attackers work to beat the defence, setting up a 'tip' (running a hard line) and 'pull back' option. They should read the defensive movements and make a decision to hit the tip option or pull out the back

• Groups of 2
• Bags
• Balls
• Contact conditioning 

1. Body height clear out work

In there groups, do contact hits on each shoulder. Stand 2m apart and take turns doing hits against bag

2. Crocodile role

One player lies on top of a tackle sausage (long way round), the group of 4 take turns swapping roles of being tackled and tackler. Focus is the crocodile role.

3. Clear out.

One player stands over the top of tackle bag competing for the ball. Other player arrives from 2m away to clear out the player, to prevent the threat of stealing the ball.

3. Bounce and compete

Players lay either side of the a ball. When whistle goes, both players bounce off the floor, one competes for the ball while the other focuses on clear out or crocodile role.

Do 3 sets of 2mins. Repetitive drill.

• Set up: the cones as shown with a cone 10 meters each side of the posts on the try line. This will mark where the ball will be passed from (feeder) preferably from a scrum half.
• Divide the group into 3 and ask them to stand in single file behind each cone.
• The ball is fed from a position alternately from either side of the post. This will encourage the players to scan, communicate and to be expectant of the ball.
• The players on the cones opposite the posts will either be the 1st receiver or the BANG option runner. The BANG runner is always running an out to in, or up to in line to fix the 2nd defender.
• The players on the middle cone will receive the ball in the BINGO (pull back) option outside the ‘outside’ post or just in behind the BANG player.
• The BINGO players should run and an arced run to receive the ball outside the outer post. The BINGO player should try to straighten up prior to receiving or on receiving the ball.

• Progression:
• Get 2 players or coaches to stand in front of the posts with 2 different coloured cones in their hands on their hips.
• The cones will represent the ‘hips’ of the 2nd defender.
• The aim is to encourage the 1st receiver to scan, look, and make a quick decision (choice of pass) depending on what the defender is doing.
• If the 1st receivers sees the ‘inside’ cone on the 2nd defender then they must assume the defenders hips are turned OUT and make a short pass to the BANG runner.
• If the 1st receivers sees the ‘outside’ cone on the 2nd defender then they must assume the defenders hips are turned IN and make a PULL BACK pass to the BINGO runner.

• The aim of the drill is to develop mechanisms to unlock defences in open play
• The first defender/feeder starts with the ball at a cone set up on the touch line five metres out from the try line
• Set another 2 cones 15 meters up on the same touch line. Two players (defenders of the 3v2) start from here once the 2v1 is completed.
• Set 2 cones on the try line 5 metres apart to create the start position for the two attackers and the attacking channel for the 2v1
• The ball is fed from the first defender, with the attackers completing a 2v1
• The defender joins the two attackers to create a 3v2
• Two attackers then become the two defenders for the next repetition of the drill