Search: ruck

Contact Skills Drills

A major part of rugby involves two or more players making physical contact with each other. Contact normally takes place during a tackle, lineout, scr...

Maul Drills

A maul is similar to a ruck but occurs when the ball is held up off the floor (in a player's hand). The maul drills, videos and mini games below will ...

Ruck Drills

A ruck occurs when the ball carrier is tackled and players from each side make contact over the ball which is on the ground (it differs from a maul wh...

Ruck Clear Out Drills

A ruck clear out involves players removing their opposition from the ruck to allow a quick pass to be made and avoid turnovers. The ruck and clear out...

Sevens Drills

The Sevens drills below to sharpen your players' rugby skills such as quick hands, speed evasion and passing under pressure before moving on to develo...

zRuck Drills

zRuck Clear Out Drills

Rucking

category: Ruck

Rugby Rucking Ruck Groups of 4 and two groups of defenders with contact pads. 1 ball per group. The ball carrier drives into the contact pads and pre...

Ruck N Roller

category: Sevens

Rugby Ruck n Roller Sevens Tell the players the following...... The first group of 3 go first. The first player, the ball carrier, hits in on the pad...

Mini Ruck

category: Ruck

Rugby Mini Ruck Ruck Groups of five Three attackers try and score against one defender If touched must ruck clear out, introduction, ruck, running, s...

One Touch Ruck

category: Warm-Up

Rugby One Touch Ruck 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 contac...

Pod-Ruck

category: Ruck

Rugby Pod-Ruck Ruck On the shout of "GO" the scrum half passes to the player on the first cone, who attacks the 1st bag. Once the bag is attacked and...

1 On 1 Breakdown Skills

category: Ruck

• Fun game 1 v 1 game to improve skills on both sides of the breakdown.
• One player lies face down either side of a tackle tube (players ...

1St Man At The Ruck

category: Contact-Skills

• Ball.
• Groups of 3+

• 2 attackers line up infront of a defender.
• The 1st attackers takes the ball into con...

1St Man At The Ruck

category: Ruck

• Ball.
• Groups of 3+

• 2 attackers line up infront of a defender.
• The 1st attackers takes the ball into con...

1St Man At The Ruck

category: Ruck-Clear-Out

• Ball.
• Groups of 3+

• 2 attackers line up infront of a defender.
• The 1st attackers takes the ball into con...

1V1 Tackle Grid

category: Contact-Skills

• 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...

1V1 Tackle Grid

category: Tackling

• 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...

2V2 Tackle And Clear Out

category: Ruck-Clear-Out

• 2 on 2 tackling and clear out game.
• Players line up in two lines, adjacent to the coned gameplay area.
• The coach stands opposi...

2V2 Tackle And Clear Out

category: Tackling

• 2 on 2 tackling and clear out game.
• Players line up in two lines, adjacent to the coned gameplay area.
• The coach stands opposi...

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...

7'S Colour Touch

category: Sevens

Tell your players the following.....

1. The attack will remain in attack for 5 minutes, you'll then switch over.
2. Normal rules of...

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...

Bag Slams | Contact Conditioning Circuit Exercise 2

category: Contact-Skills

This is the second exercise in a series of three that can be put together to form a contact conditioning circuit. The circuit c...

Bag Slams | Contact Conditioning Circuit Exercise 2

category: Warm-Up

This is the second exercise in a series of three that can be put together to form a contact conditioning circuit. The circuit c...

Beating The Ball And Rucking 2

category: School

• If tackled and the offloaded on, get the support player to communicate
• it. It is a contact drill but if you want to eliminate cont...

Beating The Ball And Rucking

category: School

• Decision-making in contact.
• The aim is to get the ball carrier beyond the tackler and the support of players making decisions...

Building The Defence 2 - Turnover The Ball

category: Sevens

Tell your players the following.........

1. The coach will call a number e.g. 1.
2. That attacking group must attack, aiming to sco...

Building The Ruck - One Step At A Time

category: Ruck

Have 3 or more pad holders, this depends on how many rucking units you wish to have and how many players you have at training - but work hard to ke...

Contact Zones

category: Ruck-Clear-Out

Set up:

8 defending players Tackle Suits, one ball carrier and four support players.

Contact: Ruck Conditioning

category: Contact-Skills

• Groups of 10+
• Tackle bags
• Cones

step 1 - players perform a down up - chest to the floor.

S...

Contact: Ruck Conditioning

category: Ruck

• Groups of 10+
• Tackle bags
• Cones

step 1 - players perform a down up - chest to the floor.

S...

Contact: Ruck Conditioning

category: Ruck-Clear-Out

• Groups of 10+
• Tackle bags
• Cones

step 1 - players perform a down up - chest to the floor.

S...

Contest The Tackle

category: Tackling

• Groups of three, the aim of the exercise is for the second defender to contest the tackle.
• One player starts with the ball, standing s...

Contesting The Ruck

category: Ruck

• This is a two person exercise, designed to improve ability at the ruck
• Stand up a tackle tube
• One player tackles the tube to t...

Continuous Passing Off The Floor 1

category: Passing

Set up a square with cones, making one side of the square with two gates of cones.

Get the players to line up evenly behind the two ind...

Counter Ruck

category: Ruck

Condition the drill in favour of 1 team, in this case the blue team.

All players lay on their fronts behind the tackle bags. On the coaches...

Croc Roll

• The aim of the drill is to develop good techniques to remove a low threat over the ball.

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 2

category: School

• To extend the drill, get the taxes to always back pedal and get them to have to go to the cone they weren't just that. This will aid communic...

Defense Into Rucking

category: School

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

Dislodge The Ball 2V1

category: Ruck-Clear-Out

Set Up

3 players, 1 ball

2 v 1 one player with ball tries to retain possession whilst other 2 work to disl...

Fast And Pressured

category: Passing

Tell your players the following......

1. There will be one runner.
2. 1 player, static, on each cone. 4 players on the cones in tot...

Fast And Pressured

category: Sevens

Tell your players the following......

1. There will be one runner.
2. 1 player, static, on each cone. 4 players on the cones in tot...

Fast Up - Play

category: Sevens

Tell your players the following......

1. This game is to be played at pace.
2. It is contact and normal rules of 7's apply, only di...

Flip It

category: Warm-Up

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

Getting Low In The Tackle

category: Tackling

*AUDIO DESCRIPTION ON*

• In groups of 5 tie a bit of tape or s...

Handling Channel 2

category: School

• To practice rucking, 1st man hits and presents, 2nd man clears and 3rd picks.
• Body positions are key (low to high), players work ha...

Hit And Drive Ruck Clearout

category: Ruck-Clear-Out

• A drill to be completed in pairs.
• One player holding a tackle bag stands in a low, strong position with knees bent.
• The player...

Hit And Roll Ruck Clear Out

category: Ruck-Clear-Out

• A tackling exercise to be completed in pairs.
• One player stands over a tackle tube, while holding a tackle bag themself against their ...

Hold Off - 1V1

category: Ruck-Clear-Out

Set Up

2 players, 1 ball

Start with ball carrier with a straight arm onto the chest of the defender.

<...

Introduction To Ruck

category: Ruck

In small teams, play a modified game where if the ball carrier is touched on the shorts with both hands of a defender, the ball carrier must go to ...

Lateral - Switch

category: Passing

Tell your players the following.....

1. Players in pairs with a ball between them.
2. The player on the left starts with the ball a...

Lateral - Switch

category: Passing

• Using cones, mark out a training area 15 meters x 10 meters.
• Split your players into groups of 2.
• Allocate 4 groups of 2 to...

Leg Drive In The Tackle And Counter Rucking

category: School

• Players work 45 seconds at a time before rotating.
• Play made tackle and drives the pad back. The player then goes on the floo...

Living On The Edge

category: Warm-Up

• Split the players into two teams, giving each team their own set of bibs. Two different colours that clearly define the teams.
• Keep ...

Maul - Rip

category: Maul

If contact cannot be avoided take on own terms Turn and present the ball Support player rips ball out and presents First ball carrier changes binding ...

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...

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...

Progression In Ruck

category: Ruck

In groups of four, the ball carrier runs out, turns and passes the ball to the second player. The first player then becomes a defender. Player 2...

Quick Removal - Beyond The Ruck

category: Ruck

Have a line of two or more ruck shields, a safe distance apart, five meters from the players that will make the hits. Make sure that the pad holder...

Quick Removal - Beyond The Ruck

category: Ruck-Clear-Out

Have a line of two or more ruck shields, a safe distance apart, five meters from the players that will make the hits. Make sure that the pad holder...

Rapid Rucking

category: Ruck

In this exercise position 3 pad holding units, or 1 or 2 players, five meters in front of 3 rucking units, 1 unit facing each pad. Two players on e...

Reload Rucking

category: Ruck

Set up two defenders holding hit shields opposite two even lines of players.

The ball starts with the first man in one of the lines, he runs ...

Rip And Ruck

category: Maul

Players stand in a circle, about 5 meters apart.

Two player, one with a ball, positioned in the centre of the circle.

The ball carrier (play...

Ruck - Coming Through The Gate 1.

category: Ruck

4 blue players must try and defend with shields two gates from the attacking red team.

The ball carrying player must meet the defending play...

Ruck - Full

category: Ruck

Take contact on own terms If no close support, go to ground and present the ball Protect head (especially younger players) Arriving players drive defe...

Ruck - Press Up - Part 2

category: Sevens

Tell the players the following......

1. The first group of 3 go first.
2. The first player hits in on the bag with their shoulder, ...

Ruck - Pushing Them Back

category: Ruck-Clear-Out

Set Up:

• 3 players
• one in tackle suit
• one with ball
• one tackle bag

The player in the tackle...

Ruck 5

category: Ruck

Turn before contactControl movement to groundKeep two hands on the ballLook for close supportImmediate ??pop?? to close support player

Ruck Clear Out Between Two Tackle Bags

category: Ruck-Clear-Out

2 people are on the tackle shields or 2 on each side about 5 metres apart facing each other, there is a ball carrier standing in the middle of the ...

Ruck Clear Out Between Two Tackle Bags

category: Tackling

2 people are on the tackle shields or 2 on each side about 5 metres apart facing each other, there is a ball carrier standing in the middle of the ...

Ruck Clear Out

category: Ruck-Clear-Out

4 players (2 players in Tackle Suits, one ball carrier and one support player) and one ball.

Ball carrier attacks suited player and takes 'l...

Ruck Clear-Out Work

category: Contact-Skills

• tackle sausage

Place 2 sausages perpendicular from eachother in a T shape.

Have one player line up a couple mete...

Ruck Clear-Out Work

category: Ruck

• tackle sausage

Place 2 sausages perpendicular from eachother in a T shape.

Have one player line up a couple mete...

Ruck Clear-Out Work

category: Ruck-Clear-Out

• tackle sausage

Place 2 sausages perpendicular from eachother in a T shape.

Have one player line up a couple mete...

Ruck Clearing Exercises

category: Ruck-Clear-Out

• Progressive exercises to improve clearing out at the ruck
• Lay a tackle tube on the floor with another tube on top, angled into the air...

Ruck Defence

category: Ruck

Coach controls defence with calls up and back between cones placed 1 - 2 metres apart.

On the call of "LIVE" the defence stays on offside li...

Ruck Organisation And Press

category: Ruck

5-7 players run around in a rectangle shaped grid. They must move very fast within it awaiting the whistle, but they are not allowed to touch the...

Ruck Organisation And Press

category: Ruck

5-7 players run around in a rectangle shaped grid. They must move very fast within it awaiting the whistle, but they are not allowed to touch the...

Ruck Over, Pickup

category: Ruck

Ball carrier goes to ground and places ballSupport player drives into defender but cannot drive him off??RUCK FORMED?? offside lines now in placeNext ...

Ruck Turnover Body Position

category: Ruck

• The coach pops the ball off to the attacker. The first defender tackles the player to the floor quickly.
• The second defender arrives a...

Ruck Zone

category: Contact-Skills

• Bags
• Min 12+
• Ball

There is a working group of 4 in the middle of 8 differnt bag holders working in 2's...

Ruck, Hold

category: Ruck

Ball carrier goes to ground and places ball Support player drives into defender but cannot drive him off RUCK FORMED. offside lines now in place

Ruck, Ruck, And Ruck Again

category: Sevens

Tell your players the following.....

1. Both the pad and attacking units will jog within the grid, the players in the attacking units don...

Ruck, Setup

category: Ruck

Contact

Go to ground

Present ball

Ruck, Setup, Steal

category: Ruck

Player 1 runs out with ball but player 2 has stepped up to meet them halfway.

Player 1 drives into player 2 - goes two steps before then go...

Rucking Body Position

category: Ruck

• Players split into pairs and line up in as many lines as you require

Rucking Body Position

category: Ruck-Clear-Out

• Players split into pairs and line up in as many lines as you require

Rucking Drill

category: School

• Excellent way to develop the different rucking techniques.
• Works concept of leg drive, body positions in contact, ball placem...

Rucking Grid, No Pass

category: School

• Grid size is 10 m x 10 m.
• 3 pads
• 3 attackers.
• No passing allowed.
• Attackers tr...

Rucking Rectangle

category: Ruck

Set up a rectangle (roughly 5m x 2m) with three attackers (blue) and three defenders (red) on opposite sides.

The attacker in the middle has ...

Rucking Square

category: Ruck

Set up a square (roughly 2m x 2m) with 4 different colour cones.

1 player starts on the floor with the ball with another player lying on top ...

Rucking With 4 Corners

category: School

• Excellent way to involve large numbers and fitness.
• Develops understanding of working hard when on the floor, communication a...

Rugby Pinball

category: Tackling

This game is designed to teach the players about body height in tackling and ruck clean out.

Set up a field about 15m long by 10m wide. Keep...

Running Lines And Breakdown Continuity

category: Agility-Running-Skills

• A coach or scrum half feeds a ball carrier who should be running onto the ball.

Running Lines And Breakdown Continuity

category: Contact-Skills

• A coach or scrum half feeds a ball carrier who should be running onto the ball.

Running Lines And Breakdown Continuity

category: Match-Related

• A coach or scrum half feeds a ball carrier who should be running onto the ball.

Running Lines And Breakdown Continuity

category: Ruck-Clear-Out

• A coach or scrum half feeds a ball carrier who should be running onto the ball.

Running Lines To Break The Gain-Line

category: Agility-Running-Skills

This drill coaches players the lines they should run when receiving the ball in order to maximise the chance of them breaking the gain line.

Running Lines To Break The Gain-Line

category: Match-Related

This drill coaches players the lines they should run when receiving the ball in order to maximise the chance of them breaking the gain line.

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.
...

Second Man Ruck Clear Out

category: Ruck-Clear-Out

• Repetitive drill aimed at improving the clear out of a defender at the ruck
• Players are split into groups of three, two attackers and ...

Smash Or Roll

category: Contact-Skills

1. Crocodile roll

• Crocodile roll is one technique to repmove threats from a breakdown.
• Most useful f...

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...

Structure Defence

category: Defensive-Patterns

5 attackers - 10 defenders (or 2 to 1 ratio dependent on numbers)

Start slowly with ruck ball

Defenders cannot steal ball

Tackle And Bounce Conditioning

category: Contact-Skills

• Groups of 3/4
• 1 Tackle Sausage.
• 1 Tackle bag.

1. Tackle Bag conditioning.

<...

Tackle And Bounce Conditioning

category: Tackling

• Groups of 3/4
• 1 Tackle Sausage.
• 1 Tackle bag.

1. Tackle Bag conditioning.

<...

Tackle And Clear Out

category: Ruck-Clear-Out

3 players (one in tackle suit, one with ball) and one tackle bag.

Player in tackle suit crouches or kneels next to tack...

Tackle And Ruck Clearing

category: Ruck-Clear-Out

Players work in groups of four against two defenders (holding tackle bags) who are stood inside the channel.

The attackers run around the fu...

Tackle Conditioning

category: Tackling

• This is a simply set up game designed to test players' ability to continuously make tackles, especially when fatigued.
• Each area shoul...

Tackle Practice

category: Tackling

Teams of 3 one team with ball.

Start with both teams on their own goal line.
Team with ball attempts to score
Defending team allowed...

Tackle Tube Clear Out

category: Ruck-Clear-Out

• Each station has two tackle tubes perpendicular to each other in a T shape.
• The tackler tackles the bottom of the T, while there is a ...

Tackler Clear Out Game Play

category: Ruck-Clear-Out

• Two teams of five players each

• One attacking...

Taking The Ball Into Contact And Support Play

category: Practices-for-Juniors

Drill to improve players taking the ball into contact and ruck clear out.

Set up a square roughly 5m x 5m. Get two lines of players behind tw...

Target Kicking Long Game

category: Kicking

• The aim of the drill is to develop reactive long kicking game.

Technical Work At The Breakdown

category: Ruck-Clear-Out

Players start face down, on the coach's whistle players get to their feet to contest the contact area.

Red player 1 and the blue player shou...

The Saddle Roll Technique

category: Ruck-Clear-Out

• This clearing technique is used to remove defenders who have latched onto the ball and are in a low body position.
• One player is bridg...

Touch Ruck Game 4 V 4

category: Ruck-Clear-Out

Defenders must use two hands to tag the ball carrier and have the body position as if performing a tackle

Once tagged the ball carrier goes ...

Touch Ruck Game

category: Ruck

Groups of 10

5 v 5 match, after each touch the touch player must simulate a ruck by hitting the floor.

Allow 1 player to clear def...

Truck And Trailer

category: Agility-Running-Skills

Groups of two

one ball per group

First player attacks space, the second player supports

Play in any direction but pass bac...

Wave After Wave

category: Passing

• Keep your player briefing, brief! Tell the players the following or have a demonstration group.....

1. We have 1 scrum half,...

Rugby : basics of ruck

The 3 elements of the ruck are explained : releasing, supports and half scrum. L.Girardi.

Pitch demo: sam warburton breakdown masterclass | rugby tonight

Wales flanker and captain Sam Warburton delivers a breakdown masterclass during a visit to Rugby Tonight. Subscribe: ... Twitter: ...

How to ruck in rugby

The ruck in rugby is a bound huddle of players opposing another huddle on the opposing team after a tackle occurs. Learn how to play rugby, including ...

Contact: Rucking technical session

Master the ?Smash? and the ?Roll? rucking technique so that when the pressure is on and a clear decision needs to be made, clearing the ruck becomes ...

Quick Ruck for Quick Ball

Quick rucking that produces quick ball is the first step towards a dangerous attacking side. Use this session to get your team rucking quickly, effici...

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

Ruck through the Gate

Teach your team to ruck safely, effectively and quickly. By going 'through the gate' you'll avoid giving away penalties and encourage better binding

Rugby Fitness, Strength and Endurance

Make sure your players don't run out of steam with this Rugby Fitness session, working on their strength and endurance

Confidence in Contact: part 2

Continue to improve your player's confidence when using contact, with the second of our Confidence in Contact sessions

Improving Rucking Technique

React the quicker and get on the front foot in attack with this session, by improving their rucking technique!

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

Phase Play and Continuity

Continue to build the phases in your play and get your team working as an unit to offer support with this session!

Ruck to Success: Improving speed at the breakdown

Improve your players' speed and drive at the breakdown to help them win the contest with this powerful ruck skills session

men to men defence drill

forwards positions in open play

Reduce Numbers in rucks

Perfecting attack structure

Better Decision Making

England and Wales - U10 rule 6.o

Basic Game Plan - U9

Jackel at breakdown and ruck

How can I get players (U15s) to take the initiative).

3 people, 1 tackle bag

Under Wing-Split

- Mid field crash play via wing with pass option to 12 - 10, 12, 14, 15 reset for second phase- Mid-field ruck must be quick- Make sure 12 straig...

Basic Rucking Drill

Ruck - Clearing players at Breakdown

(a)Both teams start onTeam w/ ball player straddles tackle bag and defends ballOther player in and clears player out Clear out w/Roll(B)Use tackl...

Rucking Position

Rucking 4 v 2

-ataque prof. desple. plan

Desde un punto de en cuentro (ruck) se alinean 6 def en la primera linea defensiva y 1 atras.y en ataque un 9 + una puntada profunda en forma de celul...

RUCK JACKNIFE CIRCUIT

Ruck Scrimmage

Copy of Ruck Scrimmage

Rucking

Back and forth clear outs constant for 2 minutes and swap out the middle group