Rugby: Warm up - Bulldog Touch

The first player runs out to the 5 meter line then stops, turns slightly and gives a little pop pass to player 2 and holds the ball for player 2, who then runs on for 5 meters and stops, turns slightly and gives a little pop pass.

When player 5 gets the ball a try is scored and the group will have travelled 25 meters in total in a straight line.

When the group has finished they will be standing in a straight line in a chain 5 meters apart.

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.

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.

You can play any version of touch you like, I'm going to suggest One Touch Off-Load - but you can change this to suit your training goals for the session ahead. Mark out your training area for the game, but include one or more Tabata training zones for your players (these zones don't have to be very big). If you only have one other person helping you - you might have only one zone, but if you have more assistant coaches or helpers standing around, create more zones - you'll find they will be used.

• Split your players into two teams, giving them bibs if needed.
• Keep your law briefing, brief - telling the players the laws of the version of touch you have decided to play.
• Tell them that as an addition to the normal laws, we now have a sin binning for mistakes e.g. you may decide that all mistakes are sent to the sin bin (The Tabata Zone), you might just focus on forward passes, or penalties. My point is that you can tailor this to suit your coaching goals. Players sent to the sin bin will be there unit sent back by the supervising coach.
• Don't forget to swap the defense and the attack. Also you can focus the sin binning on the defence for not meeting your defensive goals.

Using the Tabata Zones

• Small areas with one coach/helper.
• The Tatbata protocol is often 8 periods of intense 20 second activity - with 10 seconds of rest in between (sound simple - try it!).
• Tell the sin binned player they have 20 seconds to complete as many press-ups as they can, then give them 10 seconds to rest.
• Repeat 8 times, or reduce to a number of repetitions that work for you and your players. When the player has completed their reps - return them to the game.
• What you could do in the zones: Press ups, Lunges, Burpees, Sit ups, Etc.