Proven, easy to use rugby drills, practice plans, training tips and advice for grassroots coaches

Rugby Coach Weekly offers proven and easy to use rugby drills, coaching sessions, practice plans, warm-ups, coaching tips and advice. The resources are created for the grassroots youth coach following best practice from around the world as well as insights from the professional game.

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U7 & U8: Work together as defenders

Defence

ACTIVITY: TRACK THE ATTACKERS Tell players to: “Move together towards a target” “Tell other defenders which way to move” 1 Three attackers spread out along one of the long sides of the area and two defenders stand on the opposite side. The attackers pass a ball from side to side between themselves. 2 When […]

Timing your box kicks

Kicking & Catching

The attacking box kick is a much-used tactic at the top level so grassroots coaches should be looking to use it as a means of exerting pressure and gaining territory. Why use it A box kick can be used as a contestable attacking kick in the opposition half and even if they do gather it, […]

Pole to pole: Flag up the need for agility practice

Footwork and evasion

By Eamonn Hogan, experienced rugby coach working with representative teams in the UK and the US Agility, or the ability to avoid being tackled, needs to be practised. Game-related activities are always a great option but, sometimes, you need to break down the skill to the basics and the best way to do this is […]

Keep the ball alive

Attack

By Colin Ireland, Physical Education teacher with sixteen years’ experience working for the Scottish Rugby Union Overview Being able to keep the ball alive is important when trying to break down well-organised defences and moving the ball forward from A to B can be done much quicker if it’s kept off the ground. Set up […]

U9 & U10: Side-on tackle technique

Tackling

From EasiCoach Rugby Skills Activities U9 & U10 Get your players used to tackling side-on with either shoulder. 1. Split your players into pairs, give them a ball and get them working on a “halfway” tackle. This means that the tackle starts halfway through, with the tackler already in position with his shoulder on the […]

Work the tight head

Scrums & Lineouts

From Rugby Coach Weekly Live situations help you check your tight head’s shape and footwork under pressure from the opposition hooker and loose head. This is key with the “crouch-bind-set” laws. Why use it Prepares your tight head to react to different pressures from opponents while using his own lock and flanker for power. Set […]

Help parents to help players

Team Management

This is based on an article by Jon Woodward, a Sports Coach UK Coach Education Advisor: The Role of a Sporting Parent: Parents Just Don’t Understand… or do they? Whether you are coaching kids or adults, one of the key people in your players’ lives are their parents. Guide them into making the best environment […]

Possession under pressure

Attack

By Mark Calverley, RFU Level 3 and IRB Level 4 qualified coach, and owner of the NZRFU Practicum award – the highest coaching award in New Zealand Simply put, the best way to keep possession in Sevens is to avoid going into contact. In reality however, the opposition will press you and aim to make […]

Pre-binding before contact at rucks: The pros and cons

Rucking & Mauling

By Eamonn Hogan, experienced rugby coach working with representative teams in the UK and the US Some coaches like to have their players bind before they enter a ruck situation. This was a popular move in the ’80s with the All Blacks. Pros of pre-binding 1. Clears out defenders with the power of two Two […]

One-man rucks