Defending at rucks

U13–U16 | DEFENCE 6

Get players working on the organisation of the closest defenders in and around the edges of the ruck

1. Mark out a 20m square area and put a 2m square box at one side to simulate a ruck. Put a ball next to the ruck on one side with a player (usually this will be your number 9) ready to pass to a player outside him (10) who has three support attackers outside him.
2. Four defenders lie on their front behind the ruck just outside the area. When you call “go”, they get up, round the ruck and line up opposite the attackers ready to defend.

3. As the defenders organise themselves, the 9 passes to the 10 and the attack comes forward while the defenders have to manage their channel. The 9 can run himself if there is a gap.
4. Defenders use touch tackling but the tackles must be on the front of the ball carrier to count.
5. Experiment with the attackers aligning spread out or close together to see how the defence reacts.

You will need

• A 20m square with a 2m box (the ruck)
• 1 ball
• Cones
• Bibs

Got more players?

Set up another playing area and run another game alongside.

What to tell your players

“Make sure the end defender is opposite the far attacker”
“Come forward together as the ball is passed”