Rugby: Rucking

Blow away the cobwebs. Use these conditioned games in your pre-season build up to prepare players for contact and refresh their long-distance passing

Make sure your players don't run out of steam with this Rugby Fitness session, working on their strength and endurance

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.

In groups of four, the ball carrier runs out, turns and passes the ball to the second player. The first player then becomes a defender. Player 2 goes into contact and tries to drive the defender forward but when stopped, slides down to ground and presents the ball. Player 3 then drives over player 2, clearing the defender out of the way. Player 4 picks up the ball and runs on to the end where the drill is restarted running back down the grid

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.