Get your players to lean forward into contact to make sure they can drive through
Mark out a 5m square area. Put two ruck pad holders at the end of the area about arm’s distance apart.
Have a ball carrier start at the opposite end of the area and run first at one ruck pad holder and then drive through the gap between the two. He aims to smash through and out the other side.
Have the ruck pad holders start further into the box so the ball carrier has to accelerate quicker, as if he is taking a late pass near to the gain line.
Develop by putting three attackers in a 8m x 6m area, being fed by another player. Facing them are two defenders. The ball is passed directly to the middle player who aims to break through the defenders. If he can’t, he can offload or go to ground. The support players can take an offload or drive the player through contact or win the ruck.
You will need
A 5m square area and an 8m x 6m area for the development game
1 ball
Cones
2 ruck pads
Bibs
Got more players?
Set up more 5m squares and play further games alongside.
What to tell your players
“Take short steps”
“Accelerate quickly into contact”
“Keep low into contact”
Sometimes I still have to pinch myself and realise we have missed 18 months of competitive contact rugby. And watching the attritional British and Irish Lions Tour recently got me thinking about how we as coaches can look to prepare our youth players for the new season.
I have put together some non-contact tips on how I would work to improve the tackle technique for my players. MORE
Work on attacking the edges of the ruck defence. That means not attacking next to the ruck, but the area often less well-defended two players out.
Normal ruck defence is set with two defenders close to the ruck. Attack outside these players. MORE
This session thrives on the odd directions a rugby ball takes when it rolls along the ground and how the players react to it.
It will improve footwork, vision, communication and reactions skills, as well as making for an alternative method of training. MORE
Though you want to avoid defenders, sometimes you will have to take contact. Develop ways to retain possession at the ruck and after by keeping the ball carrier active in the tackle.
Defences will aim to force turnovers if the ball carrier can’t release a pass. If the ball carrier works hard to twist, turn and spin during the tackle, they will become less of a target. MORE
Help players make good decisions at the breakdown on whether to pass, run or ruck depending on how many defenders are threatening the tackle ball.
You want enough players to win quick ball without compromising your chances to launch effective attacks. MORE
