Quicker ruck ball guaranteed

If all your players follow this session, you will win quicker ruck ball – I guarantee it. The idea behind the session is simple. The more players who arrive in the contact area at below the hip height of a standing player, the more effective your team’s rucking will be.

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

From my observations of less experienced players over the last twenty years, picturing in their minds the right height at contact is crucial. If those players can drive into a contact situation below the hip height of a normal standing player they will improve their chances of winning that contact. It could be with ball in hand, or into a ruck or maul situation. If you can see a head poking up in any contact situation, you know that player is unlikely to be making a valuable contribution. Dubbed “contact inspectors” by some coaches, these players have a habit of looking in, but doing nothing. The head leads the way through contact. If the head faces down, then that is the likely destination for the body too.

set-up

1. Aim to take contact at below-the-hip height of a standing opponent.
2. Bend at the knees and hips so you are not stooping to take contact.
3. Always look ahead and stay on your feet.

What you get your players to do

Stand next to one of your averaged-sized players. Show the other players the correct height for contact. Then, split the players into groups of three. Position two of them half a metre apart and backto- back. Put the other player a metre away. On your shout of “GO”, the lone player, the “driver”, drives both his shoulders into the thighs of the standing players. He should remain balanced and put his head into the gap between them to do this. Swap and repeat.