Ruck, rest, ruck

Your players need to be able to ruck, then move on to another tight action / task (like run, tackle or pass) and then probably ruck again. In matches, rucking does not happen in isolation. This session works on improving your players technique at rucks, breaking away, then rucking again.

Warm up time: 5
Session time: 5-8
Development time: 6-9
Game time: 15-20
Warm down time: 7

What to think about

Rucks are hard work. They sap energy. But if you are serious about creating multiphase rugby, you need players to recycle themselves quickly to be part of the ongoing play while your side has possession. Here are three questions to ask your players:

•  If you are on the ground from a ruck, what is the most likely part of play you will be involved in next
•  If you are arriving at the ruck, what would stop you entering that ruck?
•  What is your running line from a ruck if the next phase is behind the gain line?

set-up

1.  Ruck well and then get back into the game.
2.  Make a difference at the ruck or put yourself in a position to make a difference elsewhere.

What you get your players to do

Put two pairs of players over two ruck pads as shown in the top picture. Put a feeder behind one of the pairs. Shout “GO” and the players try to push each other so they can step over the pad. After a few seconds shout “BREAK” and the players disengage and run back around the cones behind them before attacking and defending in the space between the pads. Swap players in attack and defence after each attempt.