It’s not always easy to get young players to embrace contact which is why we’ve spent so much time devising and testing contact drills that will help your players grow in confidence. Use them alongside our tackling drills to develop a team of players that are comfortable making and taking contact.
The defender who’s very low and over the ball at the tackle area is very difficult to remove. If you decide not to coach the “croc roll”, what are your alternatives. MORE
Help your players understand when to go for the steal (snatch) and when to drive through (smash) the ball through the ruck if they can’t steal it. Keep it legal and slow down or win opposition ball. MORE
Arriving players are the ruck need to come through square and strong. Help players be in the right position to be strong and legal at the breakdown. MORE
Use this mix of games and wrestle contests to develop your team’s contact skills. You will become more clinical at the breakdown and create quicker ruck ball. The role of the first and second player at the tackle area often determines your speed of ball. Win the race and be technically good. MORE
The new ruck laws are designed to encourage turnovers in the game. It is an area you can’t afford to ignore. A quickly executed attack from turnover possession causes the opposition problems. This session – “Turnover attack” – focuses on the players’ decision making after winning turnover possession. MORE
Improve different types of ball placement with the added bonus of work-rate to get back into the game. You can see how much Dylan enjoys the challenge. Dad Mark is on the camera and stick. MORE
If the ball is on the ground, then players need to react, and react aggressively. This activity works on what happens immediately after the ball is won. MORE
While many factors led to England dominating the game against Ireland, their ability to win the contact area, both in attack and defence, certainly made a massive difference. Andy Farrell, Ireland's coach, was certainly quick to acknowledge that his team came second in the physical contest. MORE
Winning turnover ball is the goal for the defence, but the ability to attack decisively from it is the ultimate objective. So players need to be aware of how to attack with turnover ball, as well as how to win it. MORE
Make your contact contests more game representative. This gives your players greater transfer into match day situations. In this activity, the ball carrier is tackled and the next arriving player has to compete effectively (and legally) for the ball. MORE
