Shotgun rugby

A support player can “ride shotgun” on the ball carrier going into contact. In this 2 v 1 session make two players bind to drive the ball into one defender. The outcome should be go forward ball. If the ball carrier falls over, the other attacker can grab the ball or protect the tackled player. It should lead to fast ball.

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

What to think about

This session uses a concept known as “latching”. A support player latches on to the ball carrier and drives him through the contact area. This might unbalance the ball carrier unless he meets contact. If that contact falls over, the ball carrier might fall too. Then, depending on whether the latching player has a hand on the ball, he has to work out whether to grab the ball or simply protect the fallen player. Don’t let the supporting player become too hung up on holding the ball when contact is made though.

set-up

1. Ball carrier: drive into contact in the normal way with a strong body position and ball away from contact.
2. Support player: drive in on the hip or backside of the ball carrier. When the ball carrier falls, grab the ball or protect it.

What you get your players to do

Put a ball carrier about a metre away from a defender (who may hold a ruck pad). Put another player about an arm’s distance behind the ball carrier. The players move forward into contact, with the player behind binding on to and driving the ball carrier forward. The ball carrier should eventually fall to ground. The support player grabs or protects the ball on the ground. Develop by changing the starting distances between the players.