U12 rugby drills and games

Your approach

Under 12 rugby will start to look like the full game, as seen on TV. With more players involved at scrums and any number allowed into rucks, players will gravitate to some positions. The key focuses should be:

• All players must be good at rucking and passing.
• Working as pairs and threes in defence.
• Lots of decision-making games.

Avoid these two training activities

1. Don’t spend too much time on tactics. Instead, play games at training based on scenarios.
2. Avoid specific fitness training. Instead, have intense periods of training where skills are put under pressure. You have such a limited time with the players that you shouldn’t waste it on non-rugby related activities.

Set piece development starts here

There are two main set pieces to work on: scrum and kick offs. With the scrum, train all your players to be able to play in the scrum, even if they are unlikely to play there in the future.

Spend no more than 10% of your session on playing away from the scrum. This is best done with a “two phase” exercise. That means you play one more “go” after a tackle is made. Complicated plays will bog down training. You are far better off developing simple plays and focusing on the skills to execute them. Kick offs need nearly as much time as scrums. Think about how to catch high balls, chase the kick and realigning from the kick. The best way to practise? Small kick off scenarios, with say 5 v 5.