U15 rugby drills and games

Your approach

Apart from one literal leap, the move from U14 to U15 has few differences.

You will still be faced with big size differences as players mature at different rates. The players will increasingly see rugby as a chance to express themselves physically. Finally, the players will start moving to their more favoured positions on the field.

The literal leap will be with lineouts, as the players move towards (depending on which country you are in) lifting in the lineout.

Here are few key areas to consider:

• Keep focused on developing the whole player, because they will still be lots of movement between positions. Also, squads won't be balanced, so you need players to be able to be flexible over a full season.
• Channel the physicality into skilful processes. For instance, improve technical skills in the tackle and the ruck every session.
• Develop a playing shape, but avoid too much structure.

A shape not a structure

Much time can be wasted trying to play a specific structure, with perhaps defined set-ups in phase play. You might be better off focusing on skill development first and then a shape to allow those skills to be utilised.

A basic shape is where the ball is played to the centre or wing, recycled to the forwards and then back to the backs. If you are a forward, you know that you should be positioned to receive the ball every other phase.

While this is extremely basic, once mastered, it can be added to.