Rugby: Ruck Defence

Groups of 4 and two groups of defenders with contact pads. 1 ball per group.

1. The ball carrier drives into the contact pads and presents ball backwards. Player 2 binds on, face to face and secures ball, player 3 binds on the other side to form a front row.
2. All attackers bind together and drive defenders back 2-3 metres. Player 4 takes ball out at back and runs back around cone with players 1-3 in support.
3. Repeat going back the other way until all attackers have practised each role.

4 blue players must try and defend with shields two gates from the attacking red team.

The ball carrying player must meet the defending players and then go to ground and place the ball. Once this has been done the attacking side must form bind together and ruck the shields out of the way - to 'come through the gate'.

The final red player to come through collects the ball and runs anti-clockwise to the next gate and the next set of defenders to repeat the drill.

The two original defenders must now move to defend the other side of the grid.

Player 1 runs out with ball but player 2 has stepped up to meet them halfway.

Player 1 drives into player 2 - goes two steps before then going to ground.

Player 2 steps over the player on the ground, picks up the ball and runs on to be met by player 3 who takes the next contact.

Repeat.

Condition the drill in favour of 1 team, in this case the blue team.

All players lay on their fronts behind the tackle bags. On the coaches whistle, the 2 teams move to contest possession.

The blue players can move straight over the bag to contest, but only the 1st red player can do the same. The other 2 red players have to run round the cones before moving in to counter ruck.