Rugby Drills

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.

One player throws the ball in to 5 players standing side by side. One player to stand in the scrum half position so as to be ready to receive a pass. Pupils should :- Attack the ball by moving forwards. Catch the ball in two hands. Players on either side of the jumper need to protect the jumper after they have caught the ball.

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. 

3 attackers start at the beginning of the grid who will go up against the tackle bag first and then the person in the body suit second; these two should not stand next to each other unless you move on to the progression. At the coaches command the attackers will go into the tackle shield first with the ball carrier going to ground and the two supporters either both clearing out or one person clearing and the next picking up the ball and going into the next defender 5 metres behind who will be in a bodysuit. The ball carrier here will try to stay strong on his feet and offload to the two support runners or one of them will come in and rip the ball and offload to the support runner who will finish by crossing over the line.

Set an area with two different coloured cones on the touch line in the middle, one for defenders and one for attackers. At the prompt of the coach the players run around designated cones and attack the defenders to score. Ball carrier should initiate the attack by attacking the inside shoulder of the first defender to stop a drift defence. Draw the first defender and make the pass to your next support runner who should do the same to pass to the outside runner who can go and score. Once attacked three or four times players should swap to defence but not every single time to create continuity and positive development.

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

This drill is designed to get your players in good habits when presenting the ball at the breakdown. This will allow your team to hold onto possession better and get quicker ball. The players run towards cones in lines of three, passing the ball from one end to the other. When the coach says "Down" or blows their whistle, whoever has the ball must drop to the ground and present the ball. The player who has presented the ball then passes to the player behind him and the drill carries on continuously. 0.29 - Demonstration  1.20 - What is the purpous of this drill?  

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.

2 teams  Bibs  Balls  One team must try and complete 10 passes in a small grid.  When the player has the ball in his hand he cannot move, the other team must try to intercept the ball to stop them completing 10 passes.  Defending team must stand 1 metre away from ball carrier. If the ball is dropped or intercepted its a turn over.  If a team knock the ball down its a knock on and the same attacking team keep the ball. 

3 vs 2 in a grid. Defenders must stay in position to start. Once skills progress defenders can move to try and stop attackers either by intercepting the ball or touch tackling the ball carrier.

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. 

Groups of 3. Progression. 1. Wrestling  Players link up, one arm under & one arm over each shoulder.  Players then pick a side to wrestle to, then give a count down and fight to force opposition on the side they chose to wrestle to. 2. Tackle on Knees   Each player takes turns to complete tackles on there knees.  3. You can make this fun and competitive by counting how many tackles a player completes in a certain amount of time.

Groups of 2  Tackle bag  An attacker holds a bag 2m away from a defender. Defender hold hands behind his back, while bagholder stands in split stance.  The Defender then does continuous steps and shoulder impacts off each shoulder one after the other.   

Groups of 2  Tackle Bags  Cones 1. Warm up light contact Players line up opposite eachother and run to meet each other in the middle. When the coach says so, the coach will leave it late to hold an arm out for the attackers to step too. The Defenders will make a late decision to tackle on either left or right shoulder.  2. Progress to adding bags & defenders turning. This minimalises the time for defenders to make decision and increaces the intensity.  3. Progress on to full live tackle.   Increace the intensity and make sure the players back track back to starting point before starting next set. 

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.

*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.