One of the current focuses for top rugby teams is quick repositioning in attacking play. This session works on putting backs and forwards into the correct position fast, often when they have started in front of the ball. Players need to anticipate where they need to be to make a run or collect a pass.

Warm up time: 5-7
Session time: 8-10
Development time: 8-10
Game time: 15-20
Warm down time: 5-7

What to think about

Realignment is toughest when the ball carriers are not moving forward. Attackers have to hold their runs or even drop back to make it easier to come on to the ball. Since there are no hard and fast rules on the ideal depth players should be at, the games in this session will help players discover what works best for them. You need to identify players who are receiving the ball while standing still, or not passing to players who are in better positions. These are two crucial symptoms of poor alignment.

set-up

1.  Make adjustments to your position to be ready to attack the ball.
2.  Look ahead as well as inside towards the ball.
3.  Attack the ball with conviction.

What you get your players to do

Set up a circle with four lines marked out from its circumference at north, south, east and west positions. Split the players into groups of three with a feeder in the middle. Tell each group which line to attack. Players then come out of the circle and attack the line at pace starting with a pass from the feeder inside the circle. The ball is passed to the player at the end and all the players return to the circle before realigning to attack the next line. Make sure the passes are made before the end player reaches the line. At some stage the players will be attacking the same line and will have to avoid each other.