Rugby: Scramble Defence Drill

2 people are on the tackle shields or 2 on each side about 5 metres apart facing each other, there is a ball carrier standing in the middle of the two defenders with one or two attackers. Ball carrier runs into defender/s and places the ball, the supporting player/s must clear away the defenders. Each attacker must have a go at hitting the defender and placing the ball.

This game is designed to teach the players about body height in tackling and ruck clean out. Set up a field about 15m long by 10m wide. Keep it narrow to give the defenders a better chance at catching the runners. Tell all the players to line up at one end facing back down the playing field. Choose 2 players to stand in the middle and tell them they are the defenders who have to tackle any runners before they reach the other side. Explain to the runners they have to run from one end to the other without getting tackled by the defenders. If a runner gets tackled they must stop exactly where they were tackled and stand on that spot. They are called bashers and cannot move their feet until the game is finished. The bashers can, however, push runners over if they come close enough to reach (bashers cannot move their feet so a good strong stance is necessary). If a runner is pushed over by a basher he/she becomes a basher too. Once the runners have made it through to the other end the bashers and tacklers turn around to face the runners and on the coaches call the run through again. This continues until there are no more runners and the last runner wins.

4 sausages  4 Bags  The sausages and bags are lined up alternately in a line. 8 defenders start lined up outside of the tackle grid. Whistle goes, the tacklers must shuffle across as a team (in a line) to line up opposite a bag or sausage before making a hit. 

Starting with their backs to one another, two players stand 5 metres apart and run off in opposite directions along one side of the 20 metre grid. At the corners of square each player cuts back into the grid and the player with the ball attempts to score by running with the ball into the far corner. The blue player's objective is to tackle them and prevent them from scoring.

*AUDIO DESCRIPTION ON* Start with a sausage pad horizontally on the floor. Players should get low to make a shoulder on tackle with the sausage pad. Encourage players to drive through with the legs to push the pad forwards. Drag the pad back into position and repeat.

Groups of 6  Balls  2 attackers start with the ball the complete a simple 2v1 catch and pass.  The first defender then has to scramble his way back to prevent the defenders scoring the 2nd 2v1 situation, from another defender a few meters behind.

The group is split in half. The coach is positioned behind the defenders and instructs the movement of the attackers, who are holding tackle shields. Defenders must mirror the movement of the attackers. If the coach indicates right, the attackers move right. If the coach raises his hands in the air, the attackers move forwards and the defenders move up in a line to meet the tackle shields. The two lines then retreat and the drill continues.

groups of 2  One player uses footwork and fast feet to try and lose his shadow (the other player)  The shadow has to try and keep in line as much as possible with the player trying to escape. 

This is a quick drill to prime your players in your defence organisation on the short side and its an opportunity to ingrain you defence principles The aim of the drill is to develop your teams good habits in defending the short side whilst changing the attack picture continuously After each set, player reset Set 4 cones up in a square 1m apart 15m from the touch line, this will mark the break down Defending players line up on the far side of the ‘ruck’ and these players will be players who will ‘fold’ on the coaches call 3 or 4 players will act as attacking players 2 other defending players are positioned 5 meters back from the gain line and on the touch line. These players need to connect with the players folding around the ruck

*AUDIO DESCRIPTION ON* Players hop around on one foot and gently bump off one another. The focus is on a getting a slight nudge between players and landing properly on one foot.

Get in pairs and players start in a press up position. Players hold onto opposite arms whilst still in the press up position. The aim is to remain balanced and work to pull the other player over

Start the session with a game of single Tag rugby.

Basic tackling skills. Tackle 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.

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.     

Players 3m apart – slightly crouched One of pair nominated as tackler On balls of feet, with feet shoulder width apart the coach calls either Right or Left.

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. 

This is a simply set up game designed to test players' ability to continuously make tackles, especially when fatigued. Each area should be about 10m long and 5m wide - 1 tackle tube required. Starting from one end, a player runs to the other end where the tube is standing up, and the player tackles the tube to the floor. That player must then pick the tube up and run back to the original position and place the tackle tube there, stood up. The other player in the pair runs from their end, and tackles the tube to the floor, before picking the tube up and carrying it back to thetheir end. Continue this for one minute.

Players 3m apart – slightly crouched One of pair nominated as tackler On balls of feet, with feet shoulder width apart the coach calls either Right or Left.

Drill to practice chasing and tackling someone. Roughly 5m x 10m channel. Players lined up in two lines behind red cones. First two players run out to white cones where a coach/feeder passes one of the players the ball.  The player who receives the ball runs to try and score between the green cones, the other player tries to chase and tackle them.