HOME Rugby Drills Warm Up

Rugby: Back To Back Turn & Chop Tackle

I am so pleased with all of the drills and advice on rugby. I am a...

Mokie, Rugby Coach

DESCRIPTION

Players stand back to back with coloured cones either side. When the coach shouts go both player run around their white cones. The coach shouts a colour and the ballc carrier runs towards that cone. If the attacker runs to the tacklers left hand side they must tackle with their left shoulder, if they run right they must tackle with their right shoulder.

COACHING POINTS

Focus on tackling low and getting the head on the correct side
Right shoulder, right foot close. Left shoulder, left foot in close
Close the space down as the defender, forward movement first

READ MORE

READ LESS

OFTEN USED WITH...

Around The Clock Tackling:

Set up 5 cones around in a circle. The tackler works out from the first cone to make the tackle. The tackler then backtracks around the next and then comes forward to make the tackle again. Two tackles off the right shoulder, one front on and two off the left shoulder.

Warm Up

Back To Back Pre Contact Wrestle:

*AUDIO DESCRIPTION ON*

Players sit back to back, arms interlocked and knees bent. The coach says left or right. The players must battle to pull their partner to the floor on the said side.

Contact Skills

1v1 Clap Tackle - Warm up:

Groups of 2.

Everyone find some space.
Stand opposite your partner.
One of the players (attacker) use footwork and move arround.
The other (defender), try to keep as close as they can to the moving player.
The attackers claps at a point of his choice, this is when the defender makes a shoulders on contact.

Low Impact.
Shoulders on.

Warm Up

1v1 Tackle Grid:

Small playing area, for 1 v 1 tackling.
Players line up in two lines adjacent to the coned area.
Coach shouts go and the front two players run round their end to end up facing each other.
The coach passes the ball to the attacker who runs at the defender, and the defender tries to take them down.

Tackling

2411521

1009

SIGN UP NOW FOR FREE

search our library of 1100+ rugby drills
create professional rugby coaching plans
or access our tried and tested rugby plans

Rugby

STAY CONNECTED

in more ways than one

sportplan_netball

MORE Warm Up DRILLS

/drills/ Rugby/ Warm-Up /categoryDrills_21.jsp

JOIN SPORTPLAN FOR FREE

search our library of 1100+ rugby drills
create your own professional coaching plans
or access our tried and tested plans

STAY CONNECTED

in more ways than one

sportplan_rugby

LATEST COACHING TRENDS

Rugby Rugby Trends The Community Tackle Height Law Is Live: Retraining Your Tacklers for 2026/27

The Community Tackle Height Law Is Live: Retraining Your Tacklers for 2026/27

World Rugby's lower tackle height is no longer a trial. It is law in community rugby from this season, and unions choose waist or base of the sternum. Here is how to retrain your defence.

August 2026

Sportplan Coaching

Rugby Rugby Trends Lower Tackles, Faster Rucks: Adapting Your Breakdown to the New Law

Lower Tackles, Faster Rucks: Adapting Your Breakdown to the New Law

Lower tackle heights leave the ball free for longer and change the breakdown contest. If your ruck work has not been updated this pre-season, you are coaching last season's game.

August 2026

Sportplan Coaching

Rugby Rugby Trends Rugby-Specific Pre-Season Conditioning: Fitness That Actually Transfers

Rugby-Specific Pre-Season Conditioning: Fitness That Actually Transfers

Long, lonely runs build lungs, not rugby players. Here's how to build a pre-season that puts fitness where the game needs it - with a ball in hand and a decision to make.

July 2026

Sportplan Coaching

VIEW ALL COACHING TRENDS