This session connects a lineout with what happens in the phase after the lineout. Players will have to make the transition and know their roles plus make decisions at the lineout. It acknowledges that not every lineout will be perfect.

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

What to think about

This really practical session works equally well with forwards and backs. Pay special attention to the lifters, who need to keep skill levels high to lift the jumper and bring him down safely before refocusing on the next phase of play.

set-up

1. Win the lineout, play to the next phase.
2. If you don’t win your lineout, recover the ball.

What you get your players to do

Put a lineout jumping pod plus one player (a receiver) about 5m away from a potential lineout with a hooker (thrower) already in place. Put two defenders by two of the five cones spread along the potential length of the lineout. The lineout pod moves to the lineout, positions itself opposite a free cone, and the ball is thrown in (see picture 1). Clean catch If there is a clean catch, the ball is passed to the receiver. He puts the ball down on the ground and the players run to a ruck pad about 15m to the side of the lineout. The receiver picks up the ball and pops it to the pod of players who run to far side of the ruck pad. The defenders move around to defend that side (see picture 2). Fumbled or missed ball If there is no clean catch or the ball is missed, then the lineout players have three seconds to get to a ball which has been placed 10m away and behind the lineout. One of the players picks up the ball and runs through the box in front of the ball, while the defenders aim to stop him. Play full contact (see picture 3).