Rugby: straighten

Players work in groups of six, with 1 ball per group and set up in the following way: 4 attackers vs 1 defender (between the first cones) and another defender between the second set of cones. Defenders can only move sideways in an attempt to stop the attackers getting through the area.

10 is the ball carrier, advancing forward, before cutting in as shown in the diagram. Both 12 and 13 advance, then change direction as shown in the diagram. 12 and 13 switch. 10 provides a pass to 13, who either hits the opposition defensive line at an angle before straightening up. Think about what will happen next. Could 10 follow the pass and take an off-load on an inside ball, if 13 gets past the gain line could 15 and 14 off wide support? Make this move your own!

Set Up Line of defenders - 5m apart in staggered formation tackle shield. Individual players move down the line – fend off each tackle in turn right then left ...

Line of defenders - 5m apart in staggered formation tackle shield.Individual players move down the line, fend off each tackle in turn - right then left etc.

See the diagram for suggested starting positions. 10 moves forward with the ball, drawing the defence to press. 10 passing to 12, 12 is moving forward. 13 presses up fast, overrunning the ball, but only just. 14 presses up, closing in, and cutting the space between them and 12. 12 throws a miss-pass to 14. Be careful of an interception. 14 runs forward taking the ball at pace. 15 runs forward proving inside support to 14. 14 makes an inside pass to 15, 15 takes the ball at an angle before straightening up.

Tell your players the following...... The ball carrier (A) runs straight in a line and makes a normal lateral pass to the supporting player (B) After passing the ball A runs towards and behind B After B catches the pass they angle their run towards the direction the pass has come from and so create space A runs around B and straightens as they receive the pass In effect you want the players to loop around the new ball carrier after they make their pass.

Players work in groups of 3 around the cone in a single file and must quickly realign to receive a pass each on the outside shoulder. Once all players have received the pass they pass to the next group - drill continues in this way.

Groups of 2. 1 ball per group. Run straight then change direction at the first cone. Attack the opposite corner and pass to the support runner, before straightening your run to finish.

Players 3m apart – slightly crouched One of pair nominated as tackler On balls of feet, with feet shoulder width apart the coach calls either Right or Left.

Players 3m apart – slightly crouched One of pair nominated as tackler On balls of feet, with feet shoulder width apart the coach calls either Right or Left.

Set Up Line of defenders - 5m apart in staggered formation tackle shield. Individual players move down the line – fend off each tackle in turn right then left ...

See the diagram for suggested starting positions. 10 carries the ball up. 12 advances. 10 passes to 12. 12 cuts in. 13 advances and cuts in towards the 12. 13 takes from 12 on a switch. 15, and 14 provide support. 13 straightens after taking the ball on an angle.

10 is the ball carrier, advancing forward, before cutting in as shown in the diagram. Both 12 and 13 advance, then change direction as shown in the diagram. 12 and 13 switch. 10 provides a pass to 13, who either hits the opposition defensive line at an angle before straightening up. Think about what will happen next. Could 10 follow the pass and take an off-load on an inside ball, if 13 gets past the gain line could 15 and 14 off wide support? Make this move your own!

Players work in groups of six, with 1 ball per group and set up in the following way: 4 attackers vs 1 defender (between the first cones) and another defender between the second set of cones. Defenders can only move sideways in an attempt to stop the attackers getting through the area.

The realignment and depth hands drill is a quick drill to focus the players in sharpening their alignment and depth before a session. You can spend as long or as short on this drill as you need. The aim of the drill is to develop the speed at which players realign themselves, to support their early hand-catch, quick and accurate transfer of the ball to a support player.Set a 5 cones 1.5 meter apart in straight line. This will mark where the players will start the drill fromSet 4 cones at a diagonal in line with the starting cones from one edge. This will be the cones that the defending players need to retreat to before coming up to pressure the attacking players.The first attacking player needs to step back 1 meter and will receive the ball from the first defending player who has also stepped back 1 meter to his designated coneDivide the group into 4 attacking player and 5 defending players, there should be a free attacking playerThe ball starts with the defending playerOn the coaches call, all defending players need to work back to their designated cone and then come forward in a straight line to their opposite attacking playerThe attacking players set their own depth to ensure they have time to catch and pass effectivelyOn the coaches call, the first defending player will move back to their cone, once they get to the cone they pass the ball to the first attacking player, and then the first defending player tries to put pressure on the first attacking playerThe attacking players try to get the ball to the 5th player without being ‘touched’ by a defending player

The ball carrier (A) runs straight in a line and makes a normal lateral pass to the supporting player (B) After passing the ball A runs towards and behind B After B catches the pass they angle their run towards the direction the pass has come from and so create space A runs around B and straightens as they receive the pass

2 groups of 2 players start on set cones about 15m apart. The 2 players are situated one in behind the other, the same goes for the second set of 2 players. Once the player with the ball starts to run, the supporter goes wide and straightens onto a gate of cones. As soon as he passes the ball the second supporter can start to move out to his designated gate. Ensure that the players hide behind one another!

The coach sets off the players one by one. As players run in a straight line they progress to the first cone and need to react to the colour called out by the coach. Players step in the direction of the call and then step back inside again, straightening up and accelerating out!

Groups of 2.1 ball per group.Run straight then change direction at the first cone. Attack the opposite corner and pass to the support runner, before straightening your run to finish.

<span style=&quot;background-color: transparent;&quot;>Set up: the cones as shown with a cone 10 meters each side of the posts on the try line. This will mark where the ball will be passed from (feeder) preferably from a scrum half.<span style=&quot;background-color: transparent;&quot;>Divide the group into 3 and ask them to stand in single file behind each cone.<span style=&quot;background-color: transparent;&quot;>The ball is fed from a position alternately from either side of the post. This will encourage the players to scan, communicate and to be expectant of the ball.<span style=&quot;background-color: transparent;&quot;>The players on the cones opposite the posts will either be the 1st receiver or the BANG option runner. The BANG runner is always running an out to in, or up to in line to fix the 2nd defender.<span style=&quot;background-color: transparent;&quot;>The players on the middle cone will receive the ball in the BINGO (pull back) option outside the ‘outside’ post or just in behind the BANG player.<span style=&quot;background-color: transparent;&quot;>The BINGO players should run and an arced run to receive the ball outside the outer post. The BINGO player should try to straighten up prior to receiving or on receiving the ball.<br>Progression:<span style=&quot;background-color: transparent;&quot;>Get 2 players or coaches to stand in front of the posts with 2 different coloured cones in their hands on their hips.<span style=&quot;background-color: transparent;&quot;>The cones will represent the ‘hips’ of the 2nd defender.<span style=&quot;background-color: transparent;&quot;>The aim is to encourage the 1st receiver to scan, look, and make a quick decision (choice of pass) depending on what the defender is doing.<span style=&quot;background-color: transparent;&quot;>If the 1st receivers sees the ‘inside’ cone on the 2nd defender then they must assume the defenders hips are turned OUT and make a short pass to the BANG runner.<span style=&quot;background-color: transparent;&quot;>If the 1st receivers sees the ‘outside’ cone on the 2nd defender then they must assume the defenders hips are turned IN and make a PULL BACK pass to the BINGO runner.

Tell your players the following...... The ball carrier (A) runs straight in a line and makes a normal lateral pass to the supporting player (B) After passing the ball A runs towards and behind B After B catches the pass they angle their run towards the direction the pass has come from and so create space A runs around B and straightens as they receive the pass In effect you want the players to loop around the new ball carrier after they make their pass.

4 players start together on their stomachs next to each other. As the coach calls a colour cone, they move into position quickly. Once in position the first player with ball in hand approached the gates set out with the agility poles. The 4 players proceed to run straight through the gate and pass etc. Once the player has ran through his gate, and passed the ball, he needs to start supporting the ball, and again the 4 players pass to one another, but now their positioning is much wider than the previous positioning.

Players 3m apart – slightly crouched One of pair nominated as tackler On balls of feet, with feet shoulder width apart the coach calls either Right or Left.

Start out with a grid of 10 x 10Passing progressions are based upon the ability of players to fix defenders - ensure the exercise reflects match situationsStart with three groups of three or four, each on a corner of the square leaving one corner freePlayers need to come around the corner, bending their runs before straightening up before popping the ball off to the next groupThe ball needs to travel through hands of all the players in the group

Players make a semi circle around the coach, about 3meters away.The coach will have a ball in their hand at all times.One player will also start the drill with a ball in their hands.Player with the ball will pass to the coach who will use the ball in their hands to deflect it to one of the players in the circle.The receiving player will need to catch the ball and pass it back to the coach who will again deflect it to another player.If a ball is dropped by a player, they will have to go to the bottom of the semi-circle.The goal for players is to catch all balls that come their way and end up at the top of the semi-circle.

4 players work together in a 6x6m grid. Players attack each line of the square, from the inside. Once they get to the 4th man they move onto the next closest line to the ball carrier. All the players in support must get into a good position to receive the ball deep and work onto the ball straight towards the line. Players keep going until they finish the last line of the grid.

Players 3m apart – slightly crouched One of pair nominated as tackler On balls of feet, with feet shoulder width apart the coach calls either Right or Left.

Running straight and changing your running line will make players better attackers and underpins an effective 2 v 1Start with a 5 v 3 situation, all five attackers start in a slightly angled line with the end player with ball in handOn Go, the play starts and the first pass is made. The receiving player runs a straight line toward the opposing player and 'fixes them up', meaning the defender is square on and must make the decision to either tackle or anticipate the pass

Set up a grid of about 10 x 10Aim to have 12 attackers and 2 defenders3 attackers spread out on each side of the square. One player starts with the ball and runs towards the first defender, before passing off to a supporting attacker, who runs towards the next defender and passes off to the other attacker in the threeThe ball is popped off to the end attacking player on the opposite side of the squareThe same play happens with three new attackers and same two defendersThe ball is then popped off to the side, and play continues until all four groups of attackers have run through twice.Then switch defenders.

<span style=&quot;background-color: transparent;&quot;>A quick drill to focus the players before going into a session or at the start of a match day warm up. <span style=&quot;background-color: transparent;&quot;>The aim of the drill is to develop early hand-catch, quick and accurate transfer of the ball to a support player.<span style=&quot;background-color: transparent;&quot;>Set 4 cones 3-5 meters apart on the 5 meter line. This will mark the starting point for your players. <span style=&quot;background-color: transparent;&quot;>Set up cones opposite on the try line<span style=&quot;background-color: transparent;&quot;>Ask your players to line up behind each cone.The ball carrier runs out to the cone opposite and passes to the next playerOnce the player on the end receives the ball, the drill changes direction and the ball goes back in the direction it came from<br><br><br>

Set up an area of about 15 x 15m. Have 2 teams of 5+ players, with 1 one ball.The players can run anywhere in the area but can't run with the ball. The first team that get 10 passes wins a point. If the ball in intercepted or dropped then turnover. The 1st pass is after the turnover is free.Stop the game every 1 minute to stretch for 30 seconds.PROGRESSIONPlayers can run with the ballPlayers can run with the ball for 2 seconds onlyOverhead passes onlyTouch the ball on the ground before passingCan't pass back to the person you've received it from

- Essentially 12+13 swap places.- This will make their opposite track them - The 13 runs an out and in hardline.-The 12 runs an out the back option then strightens up. - Read what option is best on, reading the defensive system.

Carries the ball forward, inviting the defence to press up. 10 Passes to 12. 10 loops around 12 following their pass, 10 should aim to draw attention to their run, they are a decoy. 11 presses up, and and then at speed changes the angle of their run, hitting the inside shoulder of 12. This pass should be as close to the opposition defence as possible. 12 passes to 11, 11 take on an angle. Think about what will happen next. Could 12 cancel and offer an outside ball to 10, could 11 pass to 13 and then out via the rest of the back-line. It's vital that your team makes this move your own!

Put six cones out around in a circle. One player starts with the ball at the top of the circle. The attacker runs forward and the defender must make the tackle from the angle they're starting from. The defender gets back up, retreats to the next cone and makes another tackle from a different angle.

See the diagram for suggested starting positions. 10, 12, 13, will be starting very flat with minimal movement. 11 will provide a decoy or cancel option. 15 will hit in and up on 13's outside shoulder. 14 will provide support to 15, cutting in and then up. 10 passes to 12. 12 passes to 13. 15 takes an outside pop at speed.

Use the diagram as a starting point for players. 10 advances carrying the ball, inviting the defence to press up on the attack. 12 and 13 advance, 13 cutting in towards the 12 and drawing their defender in. 11 loops around, planning to enter outside 13. 10 passes to 12. 12 miss passes to 11. 15 should have advanced from behind the 13 and up. 11 passes to 15. 14 provides outside support.

Four attacking player start behind cones on the try line. Place an object a couple metres in front of each player, this can be a cone, pole, tackle pad etc. Attackers must pass the ball down the line and run on the inside of the object.<br><br>