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Defensive Patterns Drills

Defensive patterns are the positions your players take up when stopping opposition attacks. By developing your players knowledge of defensive pattern...

Kicking Drills

Use the kicking drills and videos below to develop your players' accuracy, technique, tactical awareness and skills so they know the right kick to use...

Off Loads Drills

An off load is when a tackled player passes the ball to a teammate before the tackle is completed. Use the 2v1 and tackle bag off load drills and vide...

zDefensive Patterns Drills

Drift Defence

category: Defensive-Patterns

Rugby Drift defence Defensive Patterns 4 Tackle Bags. 10 Cones and 1 Ball. 10m x 30m. The first player in the line begins with the ball. As he approa...

Structure Defence

category: Defensive-Patterns

Rugby Structure Defence Defensive Patterns 5 attackers - 10 defenders (or 2 to 1 ratio dependent on numbers) Start slowly with ruck ball Defenders ca...

Blitz Defence

category: Defensive-Patterns

Rugby Blitz Defence Defensive Patterns WHY? Put pressure on attacking side. Force ball back inside. More numbers in defence than attackers. WHEN?

Simple Drift Defence

category: Defensive-Patterns

Rugby Simple Drift Defence Defensive Patterns 3 attacks - 2 defenders Scrum half passes to first receiver of group of 3 3 attack 2 passing ball down ...

Man To Man

category: Defensive-Patterns

Rugby Man to Man Defensive Patterns 3 attackers and 2 defenders. The scrum half passes to the first receiver of group of 3 attackers. The 3 attacking...

3 On 2 Attack And Defence Drill

category: Defensive-Patterns

Rugby 3 on 2 Attack and Defence Drill Defensive Patterns Set an area with two different coloured cones on the touch line in the middle, one for defen...

Last 15 Defence Drill

category: Defensive-Patterns

Rugby Last 15 Defence Drill Defensive Patterns A drill to practice defending in wide channels. Set up a grid that is 40m wide and 20m long, with the ...

Broken Defence

category: Sevens

Rugby Broken Defence Sevens Tell your players the following..... The attacking group will wait at the top of the training area until the coach calls ...

Ruck Defence

category: Ruck

Rugby Ruck Defence Ruck Coach controls defence with calls up and back between cones placed 1 - 2 metres apart. On the call of "LIVE" the defence stay...

2 Vs 2 Linebreak Scenario

category: Agility-Running-Skills

Here we are re-creating a 2 vs 2 scenario which we might find on the field. The aim is to put players under the same conditions which they would po...

3 Man Tackle Grid.

category: Defensive-Patterns

• Groups of 12+
• Bibs
• Balls
• Cones

Get all players ot get into teams of 3.

Select one of the...

3 Man Tackle Grid.

category: Tackling

• Groups of 12+
• Bibs
• Balls
• Cones

Get all players ot get into teams of 3.

Select one of the...

3 Touch Kick

category: Warm-Up

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 followin...

3D Touch Rugby

category: School

Players can run with the ball and pass in all directions. If a player is touched while in possession of the ball, it is an immediate turnover (ball...

Drill to practice team shapes or backs moves against a defence with less numbers than the attack.

Set up a "ruck" with a scrum half...

7V7 Touch

category: Sevens

Tell your players the following...

1. We are playing 7's, normal rules apply - except this is touch.
2. Upon getting touched a play...

Alcatraz: Jail Break

category: Warm-Up

This is a great warm-up for defensive and evasion sessions, or it might even be a warm-up that helps you reinforce coaching points made during a pr...

Alignment - Running As A Group

category: Agility-Running-Skills

Working in groups of up to 4, players spaced approximately 4-5 metres apart.

Players jog to the 1st cone then jog backwards to the start line...

Alpha

category: Backs-Moves

1. 10 is the ball carrier, advancing forward, before cutting in as shown in the diagram.
2. Both 12 and 13 advance, then change direction ...

Alpha

category: yBacks-Moves

1. 10 is the ball carrier, advancing forward, before cutting in as shown in the diagram.
2. Both 12 and 13 advance, then change direction ...

Attack Until Youre Tackled

category: Off-Loads

Playing area of 25m in length - adjust width to suit numbers- equal numbers in both teams

Full LEG tackles ONLY - ball carrier when tackled ...

Attacking Kick On The Move

category: Kicking

Practice short kicks while attacking forward (not standing still).

The attackers are aiming to land their kick in the target area (yellow con...

Attacking Lines: Unders And Overs

category: Passing

• Attackers react to the defensive line in a 3 v 2 situation
• If defence is compressed - overs - an outside line should be exploited. Can...

Backsmove - Slice

category: Backs-Moves

- Essentially 12+13 swap places.

- This will make their opposite track them

- The 13 runs an out and in hardline.

-The 12 r...

Breakdown Touch

category: Contact-Skills

• 2 teams.
• Half pitch
• Ball

- A normal game of touch, however with conditions.

- When a...

Building The Loop

category: Passing

Tell your players the following.....

1. One group of 4 players will be in defence.
2. The other two groups of 4 will be in attack, ...

Connaught

category: Backs-Moves

1. Carries the ball forward, inviting the defence to press up.
2. 10 Passes to 12.
3. 10 loops around 12 following their pass, 10 sh...

Connaught

category: yBacks-Moves

1. Carries the ball forward, inviting the defence to press up.
2. 10 Passes to 12.
3. 10 loops around 12 following their pass, 10 sh...

D1 - Dummy Loop

category: Backs-Moves

1. Use the diagram in order to think about the starting position of your players, I suggest that they are not too deep for this one.
2. 10...

D1 - Dummy Loop

category: yBacks-Moves

1. Use the diagram in order to think about the starting position of your players, I suggest that they are not too deep for this one.
2. 10...

Defending in Threes

Set up 4 grids of about 8-10m by 5m.

3 players start on the first grid, working from one end to the other, covering the 5m distance.

Defending In Threes

category: Defensive-Patterns

Set up 4 grids of about 8-10m by 5m.

3 players start on the first grid, working from one end to the other, covering the 5m distance.

Defending in Threes

Set up 4 grids of about 8-10m by 5m.

3 players start on the first grid, working from one end to the other, covering the 5m distance.

Defense Into Rucking

category: School

• Work this fitness, defensive in line speed, communication, beating the defender and rucking.
• Even number of players and pads....

Defense Vs Attack Drill

category: School

• The aim is to the defensive situation to keep changing the defence gets used to drifting or pressing.
• The aim of the attack i...

Defensive Systems - Structure Progression.

category: Defensive-Patterns

1. Defensive Organisation

4 Defenders line up on the the cones.

When coach goes to pass the ball, when han...

Defensive Touch

category: Defensive-Patterns

• 2 Teams.
• Half Pitch.

Touch Game with conditions;

Attacker once touched must go down, bounce b...

Defensive Touch

category: Match-Related

• 2 Teams.
• Half Pitch.

Touch Game with conditions;

Attacker once touched must go down, bounce b...

Defensive Touch

category: Warm-Up

• 2 Teams.
• Half Pitch.

Touch Game with conditions;

Attacker once touched must go down, bounce b...

Denfence Down

category: Warm-Up

• Be brief when telling the players the laws of this game, it's important to get them moving quickly.
• This is not a contact game.
...

Double Gauntlet

category: Decision-making

Mark an area 15m wide and 20m long.

3 Attackers vs 2 Defence vs 2 Defence

Have the 2 lines of 2 Defenders 5-7m apart

Drift, Cover Or Blitz Touch

category: Match-Related

During a game of touch in a grid sized 30 x 30 metres the coach can choose to call blitz, drift or cover at any breakdow...

Drop Out Touch.

category: Match-Related

• 2 Teams
• Attackign and defensive focus.

Normal game of touch rugby, however whenever the defender touches an attacker...

Drop Out Touch.

category: Warm-Up

• 2 Teams
• Attackign and defensive focus.

Normal game of touch rugby, however whenever the defender touches an attacker...

Enter 1

category: Backs-Moves

1. Use the diagram to help with players starter positions, but feel free to experiment.
2. 10 carries the ball forward, inviting the oppos...

Escape To Victory

category: Warm-Up

• Within each group of 10, there should be 4 attackers and 6 defenders.
• The defenders should be in the outer grid and the attackers wi...

Evasion Drill

category: Tag-Rugby

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 o...

Everyone Gets A Second Chance ? Touch Variation

category: Warm-Up

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 followin...

Flick And Back Pass Insanity

category: Passing

Now split your players into two teams, giving one group of players a set of colored bibs to set them apart, and quickly tell your playe...

Flip It

category: Warm-Up

• Be brief when telling the players the laws of this game, it's important to ge...

Four Handed Touch

category: Warm-Up

The following are the laws for this game:

• Equal number of defenders and attackers. Use bibs to identify both teams.
• Normal l...

Go To Goal Touch

category: Warm-Up

The following are the laws for this game:

• Normal laws of rugby apply; a knock on etc. results in a turn over.
• The attacking t...

Hit The Gap Drill

category: Decision-making

A drill to practice decision making and finding space between defenders.

Set up a line of three defenders with tackle shields (roughly 2m apa...

Introduction To Defensive Systems

category: Defensive-Patterns

• Groups of 10+
• 3 Bags
• balls
• Cones

1. With bags

3 Attckers with b...

Introduction To Defensive Systems

category: Tackling

• Groups of 10+
• 3 Bags
• balls
• Cones

1. With bags

3 Attckers with b...

Join The Attack: 2V1 - 3V2 - 5V4

category: Warm-Up

• With a group of nine, tell two of them they are attackers - for now. The rest will be in defence.
• Allocate your defenders within the...

Leave No Man Behind

category: Agility-Running-Skills

• Players start in the bottom right corner and on the command sprint as a group before doing 5 press ups.
• They advance as a defensive ...

Leave No Man Behind

category: Warm-Up

• Players start in the bottom right corner and on the command sprint as a group before doing 5 press ups.
• They advance as a defensive ...

Loop Move (Simple)

category: Backs-Moves

1. See the diagram for suggested starting positions.
2. 10 passes to 12.
3. 10 loops around 12,
4. 12 passes to 10, this pass ...

M1 (13 Missed)

category: Backs-Moves

1. See the diagram for suggested starting positions.
2. 10 moves forward with the ball, drawing the defence to press.
3. 10 passing ...

M1 (13 Missed, 14 Over)

category: Backs-Moves

1. See the diagram for suggested starting positions.
2. 10 moves forward with the ball, drawing the defence to press.
3. 10 passing ...

M1 (13 Missed, 14 Pop Inside To 15)

category: Backs-Moves

1. See the diagram for suggested starting positions.
2. 10 moves forward with the ball, drawing the defence to press.
3. 10 passing ...

M1 (13 Missed, 14 Pop Outside To 15)

category: Backs-Moves

1. See the diagram for suggested starting positions.
2. 10 moves forward with the ball, drawing the defence to press.
3. 10 passing ...

M1 (13 Missed, 14 Under)

category: Backs-Moves

1. See the diagram for suggested starting positions.
2. 10 moves forward with the ball, drawing the defence to press.
3. 10 passing ...

M1 (Looper) Attacking Wide

category: Backs-Moves

1. See the diagram for suggested starting positions.
2. 10 moves forward carrying the ball.
3. 12 loops around 13, and wide outside ...

M1 (Over)

category: Backs-Moves

1. See the diagram for suggested starting positions.
2. 10 passes to 13, missing 12.
3. 12 overruns the ball.
4. 13 runs an ov...

M1 (Pop Inside 15)

category: Backs-Moves

1. See the diagram for starting positions.
2. 10 moves forward carrying the ball.
3. 12 moves forward, over-running the ball, cuttin...

M1 (Pop Ouside 15)

category: Backs-Moves

1. See the diagram for starting positions.
2. 10 moves forward carrying the ball.
3. 12 moves forward, over-running the ball, cuttin...

M1 (Under)

category: Backs-Moves

1. See the diagram for suggested starting positions.
2. 10 passes to 13, missing 12.
3. 12 overruns the ball.
4. 13 runs an un...

M1 12 Over

category: Backs-Moves

1. See the diagram for suggested starting positions.
2. 10 carries the ball forward.
3. 12 run forward, then an over.
4. 13 ru...

M1 12 Under

category: Backs-Moves

1. Note the starting positions of players for this move, it's just a suggestion. However, I suggest your players start that bit flatter, and tha...

M1 Simple

category: Backs-Moves

1. See the diagram for the starting positions.
2. 10 passes to 13.
3. 13 comes forward either straight, or cutting in to close the s...

Maul Touch

category: Warm-Up

• Be brief when telling the players the laws of this game, it's important to get them moving quickly.
• This is not a...

Max 1

category: Backs-Moves

1. See the diagram for the suggested starting positions.
2. 10 moves forward carrying the ball.
3. 12 moves forward, cuts in.
<...

Max 2

category: Backs-Moves

1. See the diagram for the suggested starting positions.
2. 10 moves forward carrying the ball.
3. 11 provides a decoy run.

Max 3

category: Backs-Moves

1. See the diagram for the suggested starting positions.
2. 10 moves forward carrying the ball.
3. 11 could provide a decoy run.

Max 4

category: Backs-Moves

1. See the diagram for the suggested starting positions.
2. 10 moves forward carrying the ball.
3. 12 and 13 switch.
4. 13 tak...

Munster

category: Backs-Moves

1. See the diagram for the suggested starting positions.
2. 10 advances with the ball.
3. 12, 13, 14 advancing, closing the space be...

Offloading Touch Game.

category: School

• Develops lines of support, vision, footwork and offloading.
• If a player is touched, he must go to the floor and off load.&nbs...

Offside From Kicker

category: Defensive-Patterns

Drill to practice defensive organisation when the kicker must put their teammates onside.

Set up a grid roughly 30m long and 30m wide.

...

One Touch Ruck

category: Warm-Up

• Be brief when telling the players the laws of this game, it's important to get them moving quickly.
• This is not a contact game.
...

Piggy In The Middle And Defend

category: Ruck

4 players stand on the corners of a 5x5m grid, and one player in the middle (the piggy).

They play piggy in the middle until the whistle goe...

Piggy In The Middle And Defend

category: Warm-Up

4 players stand on the corners of a 5x5m grid, and one player in the middle (the piggy).

They play piggy in the middle until the whistle goe...

Pro 1

category: Backs-Moves

1. See the diagram for the suggested starting positions.
2. 10 advances with the ball.
3. 12 advances, 13 provides support with 14.<...

Pro 2

category: Backs-Moves

1. 10 moves forward carrying the ball.
2. 12 moves forward and in.
3. 11 loops around the back of 12.
4. 10 passes to 12.
...

Rangi (Version 1)

category: Backs-Moves

1. Use the diagram to highlight suggested starting positions.
2. 10 is the ball carrier, advancing forward, before cutting in as shown in ...

Rangi (Version 2)

category: Backs-Moves

1. Use the diagram to highlight suggested starting positions.
2. 10 advances with the ball.
3. 12 advances, as does 13.
4. 14 ...

Rangi (Version 3)

category: Backs-Moves

1. Use the diagram to highlight suggested starting positions.
2. 10 advances with the ball, then cuts in.
3. 12 advances, and cuts w...

Rugby League - Touch Rugby Variation

category: Warm-Up

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 ...

Scoring Zones

category: Warm-Up

• Be brief when telling the players the laws of this game, it's important to get them moving quickly.
• This is not a contact game.
...

Snap, Crackle, And Pop - Touch Variation

category: Warm-Up

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 followin...

Space Invaders

category: Warm-Up

Keep your playing briefing, brief and tell the players the following laws.

• Both teams are in attack and both teams are in defence, at ...

Speed Maul - Hands On!

category: Maul

Set up lines of defenders with pads aligned laterally across your working area. You can either have 1 line so the attacking players work once and...

Static 1

category: Backs-Moves

1. See the diagram for suggested starting positions.
2. 10 and 12 remain static, the other players are in motion, offering options.
<...

Static 2

category: Backs-Moves

1. See the diagram for suggested starting positions.
2. 10, 12, 13, will be starting very flat with minimal movement.
3. 11 will pro...

Static 3

category: Backs-Moves

1. See the diagram for suggested starting positions.
2. 10, 12, 13, will be starting very flat with minimal movement.
3. 11 will pro...

Support Gauntlet

category: Decision-making

Drill to practice decision making.

Set up a grid 10m wide and 35m long with cones at the start (yellow), 5m (orange), 15m (blue), 30m (red) a...

Switch 1

category: Backs-Moves

1. See the diagram for suggested starting positions.
2. 10 carried the ball forward, inviting the defence to press up.
3. 10 cuts in...

Switch 2

category: Backs-Moves

1. See the diagram for suggested starting positions.
2. 10 carries the ball up.
3. 12 advances.
4. 10 passes to 12.
5. 1...

Switch Over Attack

category: Passing

Drill to practice attacking organisational skills

Set up a grid roughly 20m wide and 20m long, with different coloured cones at one end and 5...

Tabata Touch

category: Tag-Rugby

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 s...

Team Kicking Game

category: Kicking

Two teams of 2. 1 team attacking and the other team defenders.

Attacking team starts with a ball.

Aim of the game is for the attac...

Ulster

category: Backs-Moves

1. Use the diagram as a starting point for players.
2. 10 advances carrying the ball, inviting the defence to press up on the attack.
...

Pitch demo: shaun edwards' rugby defensive masterclass | rugby tonight

Welsh coach Shaun Edwards gives a defensive masterclass on BT Sport, showing in a live pitch demo just how and why the Saracens are so effective at bl...

Rugby league - defensive training and line speed drills with luke brimble

Here are some simple defensive drills for Rugby League that have been used the Spartans Rugby League Club.

Rugby dump coaching: saracens defensive system - part one

This week, as part of our ongoing collaboration with Rugby Dump we look at Saracens highly effective defensive system and what makes it tick over so w...

Best rugby tackles ever!

Sorry i have been gone for a while.I just took a short break but now iam am back again with weekly uploads. Music: JPB - Defeat the Night rugby,rugby ...

Rugby coaching drills - defensive structure

Defence is becoming one of the most important areas to coach in rugby union. This clip briefly covers the relevance of defensive structure and a few b...

Rugby fullback #15 tackles - runs - catches - tries

Description: Get motivated to play well as Fullback. Get inspired to be a fullback. #TheManAtTheBack.

Pitch demo: david flatman rolling maul defensive masterclass | rugby tonight

David Flatman talks us through how best to defend a rolling maul with the help of Martin Bayfield and Lawrence Dallaglio on Rugby Tonight. Subscribe: ...

Francois louw's defensive flanker demo

South Africa and Bath's Francois Louw explains to BT Sport rugby expert Ben Kay what the different defensive roles for an openside and blindside flank...

Welcome back session - Pre-season build up

Blow away the cobwebs. Use these conditioned games in your pre-season build up to prepare players for contact and refresh their long-distance passing

The Zones Game

Use this fantastic drill in your next coaching session today and get ready to work your players hard

Handling and Support Play for More Effective Attacks

Burst through defensive lines with this attacking passing and handling plan - designed to sharpen your players' support running in the attack

Defensive Dominance!

With this high intensity session, improve your team's defensive skills, whilst also working on their fitness

Guard the Ruck - Organisation in Defence

High tempo defending and handling plan. Improve your rugby players' communication, organisation and line speed for a more solid backline

Defensive Skills: Contest Possession

Pile the pressure on the oppositions attack with this defensive skills session. Get them scanning the attack to put pressure on the ball carrier and a...

Contact Work - Bounce, Jackal, Fire

Contest for every ball and cause a turnover with this session by focussing on both defensive and attacking breakdowns. Work on the jackal and bounce i...

Coaching the Blitz Defence

Develop the aggressive Blitz defending style in you game and don’t let the opposition get comfortable on the ball with this session.

Coaching the Drift Defence

Get your players thinking their way through this session, focussing on Drift Defence when the opposition have an overlap on the outside.

Defensive Principal: Competing Jackal!

Develop some tactical awareness and get your players recognising the value of slowing down the game with a jackal.

Getting a straight defensive line and speed

Tips on breaking through a defence line?

Advice on playing flyhalf

Defence, who must tackle a player cutting in?

attaxing and defence drills that helped you

When a scrum is awarded following an unsuccessful end to a maul

Positional awareness for Wingers and Centres?

How can I prevent an overlap?

U10s mini rugby small sided game variations

Team warm up drills that incorporates all the backs

defensive game

defensive structure

Autosave 88541419

Ball carrier goes into contact staying on his feet until his support joins him. Support player calls him to ground. Ball carrier presents ball as supp...

2 Up-

10 to read defensive shape of centres. If they open up to chase 15, 13 is hot. If Def 13 holds, release 15.(Wipers, Red, Tip, 2)

Scramble

10 to read 12 & 13's defensive shape and play to 1 of 3 options. They fade and 13,15 are hot. He holds and 12 is hot. If open winger flattens...

Defensive Lines

4-point tackle

Remind offense that this is a defensive drill. Mindset is to get defender thinking about his positioning and how/where to tackle based on that positio...

Basic Defensive structure

Kick Off-Option 1

Option 1 Deep Right hanging kick off Defensive Red Team1. we want to close their space as quickly as they allow us to.2. stay connected next...

Defensive Line