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A ball carrier going into contact should always look to drive past the defender. The next player in support can then follow in behind the ball carrier, to either drive him through, pick up or protect the ball, or take an offload. This session concentrates on the support player’s positioning.

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

What to think about

Why not support at the side the ball carrier? Initially you may find that support players run to the side of the ball carrier. This, however, only gives the ball carrier one option. If the support player is behind the ball carrier, then he can drive the ball carrier on if he becomes stuck in contact. If the ball carrier breaks through, then the support player can read his movements and be in a position to take an offload or pop pass on either side. Support decisions as part of your game plan Though you should be coaching the full range of support decisions, this exercise can hone the options you want for the game plan. You might want offloads, or mini-mauls or quick rucks.

set-up

Ball carrier: Step sharply before contact. Keep the ball tight through contact.
Ball carrier: Beat the defender before deciding on whether and how to release the ball.
Support player: Follow directly behind the ball carrier.

What you get your players to do

Set up some cones as the top picture. Get one player to feed a runner. The runner takes the ball and cuts sharply through the “gate”. He then steps again to avoid the two cones bunched together, before exiting through one of the two gaps at the back.
Once the runners are comfortable with the steps, put a tackle bag holder over the bunched cones. The feeder now follows the ball carrier in support. Make sure he goes through the “gate” so he is square behind the ball carrier.

The ball carrier receives the ball on an angle, cuts sharply and then steps through the cones.

Development

In the same area, put two tackle bag holders in the gaps at the back of the cones. They walk forward together with a small gap between them. Place another tackle bag holder about five metres behind the other bags. The ball carrier runs the same lines and bursts through the bags with the supporter following through. He then passes to the supporter to beat the final bag.

Related Files

Advanced-181-square-support.pdfPDF, 150 KB

The support player feeds the ball and then gets in behind the ball carrier, exactly following his path.

Game situation

Start with a two v two situation where a ball carrier is fed a ball about four metres from two defenders. He tries to bust through with the support player running in behind. Develop the game by adding more players.

The ball carrier busts through the tackle bags, with the support player following through behind.

What to call out

“Cut sharply before contact”
“Follow the ball carrier through the gaps”
“Keeping communicating through the contact area”
“Keep the ball away from the defenders”

Dan Cottrell

Dan is a practising RFU Level 3 coach and coach educator. He coaches with the Bristol Bears DPP programme, is head coach of Bristol Schools U18s and the Rugby Performance coach for Bristol Grammar School. Dan is also a coaching and development consultant for World Rugby Development Programmes and club performance adviser for St Mary's Old Boys.

He was head coach of Swansea Schools U15, Young Ospreys Academy, assistant coach with the Wales Women's Team for the 2010 World Cup, director ...

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