HOME Rugby Drills Tackling

Rugby: Tackle Pad Grapple

Sportplan rugby has played a large role in my team's love for the...

Heather, Rugby Coach

DESCRIPTION

In pairs. Each player grabs one end of the tackle pad. The players wrestle to grab the tackle pad from the other players grasp. Repeat a couple of times.

COACHING POINTS

Great warm up drill
Good for large groups
Players use momentum and full body to rip the bag free from the other player
Make into a competition by having winners player against each other

READ MORE

READ LESS

OFTEN USED WITH...

Collecting & Catching Difficult Balls:

This drill will develop your players ability to regather difficult balls and make offloads.

Working in groups of three, one player is practicing the skill at a time.
The practicing player throws the ball to two other players who are holding balls.
These two players bounce the ball back and the practicing player has to gather the ball without knocking it on.

Progression

Now the practicing player holds two balls. He has to offload and then regather the ball with one hand.

Off Loads

Explode Up Tackling:

Tackler starts on their knees. As the ball carrier gets closer the tackler steps up to give them more power and punches through to give them more power. The tackler drives through and finishes on top.

Warm Up

Tackle Height - Staying Low:

Lay a sausage pad flat on the floor. Working player take a couple of steps in close, sinks their hips and drives the tackle pad forward.

Warm Up

3 Second Touch - Touch Rugby Variation:

Split your players into two teams, giving one group of players a set of coloured bibs to set them apart, and quickly tell your players the following laws:

Keep the law briefing, brief! Get your players moving as quickly as you can.
When touched a player has three seconds to make their pass, and they can keep running (reduce or increase this time depending on your coaching goals/targets). They don't need to set the ball down - just pass.
You could change three seconds to three steps, change depending on your goals and the skill level of the players.
No forward passes - normal rugby laws should apply.
You might decide on 5 touches before the ball is turned over, but more or less is ok. Also - you might decide on unlimited touches. It all depends on your targets as a coach, and your players age and skill levels.
Change the laws as you see fit, and let us know the variations that work for you.