Rugby: tens

5 x 5m grid, size can vary according to ability.Player at the front of each queue starts with a ball, runs diagonally across square and gives a pop pass to the player at the front of the oppoisite queue.

The aim of the drill is to develop kickers footwork and body position into kick. The goal is to execute the full kicking motion and control the balls trajectory (aiming for the coaches chest).

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.

Good for younger rugby players to learn how to go into contact and set up the ball at pace, you can use it as a competition between the team with a limit of time etc. 2 tackle shields 1 ball 2 people are on the tackle shields about 5 metres apart facing each other, there is a ball carrier standing in the middle of the two defenders. Ball carrier runs in to one defender and places the ball, once placed, he gets to his feet quickly and runs into the next defender doing the same. This process can continue for as short or as long as you like, a good challenge would be 30 second limit to get in as many hits and ball placements as possible.

Good for younger rugby players to learn how to go into contact and set up the ball at pace, you can use it as a competition between the team with a limit of time etc. 2 tackle shields, 1 ball 2 people are on the tackle shields about 5 metres apart facing each other, there is a ball carrier standing in the middle of the two defenders. Ball carrier runs in to one defender and places the ball. Once placed, he gets to his feet quickly and runs into the next defender doing the same. This process can continue for as short or as long as you like, a good challenge would be 30 second limit to get in as many hits and ball placements as possible.

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 aim of the exercise is to develop unit work, communication and good Technique.

Exercise aimed at attackers staying square when running towards a defender in order to fix them to the spot and then spin a pass out to the side. Attackers start on a cone, before running towards a cone 3m away On that cone, the attacker sidesteps (drops the shoulder) and goes the other way Running straight now, the attacher goes towards the tackle tube (or whichever necessary object) in front of them and before 'contact' spins the ball out to the opposite side For example, if the player stepped towards the left, the pass is made to the player waiting on the right side of the area.

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.

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.