Rugby | Defensive Patterns Drills

Groups of 5 Combine grids to make 2 channels each 10m x 20m 1 Ball per group Ball carrier tries to score a try by running past the defender. Support players follow the ball carrier. If tagged, the ball carrier must pass the to one of his / her support players. The defender must GIVE the tag back before trying to make a second tackle.

Pitch 20m x 20m. All players wearing tag belts Start the game with a free pass, defenders must be 7m back at the start Attacking players must try to run past the defenders to score a try. If tagged, the attacker must pass the ball backwards to a team-mate. After a tackle, the defenders must give the tag belt back, stay on their own side of the ball and NOT intercept or obstruct the pass.

The pitch is divided into two halves The defenders must start at opposite corners of the pitch The attacker must have at least one player in either half. The middle player starts with the ball.

Large Grid 30m x 30m. Start with 5 defenders in the middle, everybody else stands at one end of the grid wearing tags. On the coach's call all attackers try to run past the 5 defenders and get to the opposite side of the grid. Attackers that are tagged join the defenders in the middle, the game keeps going until there are no attackers left.

Up to 10 in a group. Each player should have a tag belt. Each player partners up with someone and then stand side by side. On the coach's call the players run to that sideline. If the coach calls 1 for example they have to run to the sideline before the 2s can catch them and take their belt.

2 x Adjacent 20m x 10m channels In the first channel, players pass the ball across the line in a chain. After the first pass, the player that started the chain remains in the middle to become a defender

Divide the 20m x 20m grid in half. 1 Ball per group Players 1 starts standing with the ball. Player 2 starts on one knee. Player 3 starts on both knees. Player 4 lies on their front. Player 5 lies on their back. On the teachers call, all players try to start running forward as quickly as possible, and pass the ball along the line. The starting positions should mean that every pass is made to a player supporting from behind.

The aim is that when the coach signals the start the defending players will spread across to the other side of the field quickly and defend the entire field width. Explain to the players the importance of spreading out and defending in a line. Game Organisation and Rules The aim of this game is to get the defending team to understand the importance of spreading out in defence. This game is aprogression of Line Tag. Set up a narrow rectangle approximately 10m wide x 5m long. Split the players into 2 even teams and get them to face each other on opposite 10 meter lines. Explain to the players that 1 team will be attacking and their task is to get across the opposition line without being tagged (2 handed tag). The defending team are told to line up at one corner of the field and when signalled by the coach they are to attempt to tag the attacking players before they get across the line. As the game develops the attackers will naturally start on the side furthest away to the defenders, to stop this place the fastest runners on the side closest to the defenders. Explain to the attackers about the idea of changing running gale to step the defenders. R1

Drill to practice/teach evasion skills. Set up two lines of cones (green and red) with two lines of players (blue and red) of equal numbers opposite each other, roughly 5m away. The attackers (blue) are trying to cross the defensive line without being touched by a defender (red). The defenders can only move laterally. Every time the attacker crosses the line, or gets touched by a defender they have to return to the line 5m away before trying to attack again. The attackers are trying to cross the line as many times as possible in 30seconds. Then switch the attackers and defenders over.

Make one large 20m x 20m grid. Players work individually and must run in any direction in the grid, trying to avoid contact by running into space. When the coach calls stop, all players must be at least 1m from the nearest player.

Large Grid 20m x 20m. Players in groups of 5 with one ball per group The leader with the ball can run in any direction. The rest of the group must follow like a snake. When the teacher calls Pass, the leader must stop, hold the ball out to the side so the next player can take the ball from their hands and continue running. The leader then joins the back of the group.

Large Grid 20m x 20 m Players in groups of 5 1 Ball per Group Leader of the group can run in any direction, the rest must follow. When the teacher calls "Pass", the leader has to step to the side and pop passes it to the next player or passes it over his head. The person who was the leader joins the back of the queue.

Pitch is 20m x 20m. All players wearing Tag Belts Start the game with a free pass, defenders must start behind the half way line Attacking players must try to run past defenders to score a try. If tagged, the attacker must pass the ball to a team mate. After a tackle, the defenders must give the tag back, stay on their own side of the ball and NOT intercept or obstruct the pass.

Players work in groups of 5 in a grid 10m x 10m, with 1 Ball per group. 4 Players work as a team to make 10 passes. The defender tries to tag a player who is holding the ball. Either rotate the defenders or if caught and then the tagged player becomes the next defender.

Groups of 5 The pitch is divided into 2 halves Both defenders must start at one corner of the pitch. The attackers must have at least one player in each half of the pitch