Get tackled players placing the ball away from the body and lying so they are facing towards their own goal line
Start with an attacker 3m back from one side of the area and a defender standing on the opposite side. Put a feeder to the side of the attacker.
When you say “go”, the attacker runs forward, receives a pass from the feeder and enters the area. At the same time the defender runs into the area to confront the attacker.
The attacker aims to beat the defender without being two-hand touched. If he is touched, he must fall to the ground and present the ball back towards the side he came from.
Develop this by allowing the defender to make a tackle instead of a two-handed touch.
Further develop by having a 2v2 in a wider box. Use either touch (as above or tackling). When the tackled attacker presents the ball, the other attackers aim to protect and win the ball.
You will need
A 5m square area
1 ball
Cones
Bibs
Got more players?
This is a quick drill so you can have other players waiting their turn, or set up other games alongside.
What to tell your players
“Two hands on the ball when going to ground”
“Twist and stretch back with the ball”
"With the return to rugby, I’m really worried that my team (U13s) will have forgotten lots of things about rugby. In particular, I’m trying to work out when and how to introduce contact and tackling."
This question came from a coach in Gloucester and is typical of lots of concerns around this area of the game.
It is true that the players will have "forgotten" lots of skills.
Here's how I would approach this situation. On the next page are two tackling exercises to support training.
MORE
Make sure your players use the right footwork to power through the contact area and then manipulate the ball so they can offload or present the ball cleanly.
Though power and aggression are important in the contact area, the ball carrier also needs to be technically accurate to ensure good continuity. MORE
There are three main options for how the ball carrier takes the ball into contact. A better understanding of the different methods will help your players decide.
Though we want the ball carrier to avoid contact, there will be times when they will be tackled and still able to adjust to take the impact on their own terms. MORE
Develop your pick-and-go game against an organised ruck defence. James Forrester introduces this three-player move to create some go-forward momentum. MORE
More and more teams are doubling up on the ball carrier, with another attacker latching (binding) on to drive him through contact. Here’s a simple exercise to develop the skill.
Two players taking the ball into contact bound together means more power and weight, plus the non-ball carrier can protect and support quickly. It’s a good play against an organised defence. MORE
