EXPERT SESSIONS AND ADVICE FROM QUALIFIED AND EXPERIENCED GRASSROOTS RUGBY COACHES
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.
When touched the tackled player goes to ground and delivers the ball correctly. This focuses on good ball presentation skills. A poor presentation will lead to an automatic turnover.
The ball carrier looks to get to ground and deliver the ball correctly whilst the other player tries to prevent this. So, two players wrestle for control of the ball and the winner presents the ball back.
In the following touch game, after the touch, the ball carrier presents on the ground, and a player from each team competes over the ball.
A development of the first game. On a touch, a player from either side contests over the ball. Call who wins that contest before the ball is passed away.
Two players wrestle for the ball, and a second player from each pair lies on their chest behind. They come forward to compete for the ball when it is on ground. 8 v 8 contact area game Bringing these skills together we play a competitive, full-on tackling game.
in Attack, Footwork and evasion, Rugby drills
How often do you despair that your players can’t score when there’s an overlap? Why is it players drift out in attack and play into the hands of the drift defence? Here are my simple solutions. MORE
in Contact
Attacking the space between two defenders in a close proximity means a good chance of a double tackle. Instead, attack one defender and beat just them. In a tight defence, though the space between the defenders seems more attractive, it means that those two players step in to double team the ball carrier. MORE
in Footwork and evasion, Rugby drills
Use this activity to improve players’ ability to scan what’s in front of them. It will allow the players to develop their footwork options before contact or in open play. All the targets are in front of the ball carrier, so they will need to go forward but still avoid the defender. MORE
I've been fortunate enough to have Eddie Jones deliver some sessions. This is the game he started with and it is excellent for reinforcing key messages around core skills or principles of play. MORE
in Ask Dan, Contact, Rugby drills
"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
in Defence, Rugby drills
Improve your players’ awareness of how to move together as a defensive line. A defensive line needs to know who’s covering who and then double up if they can to make a tackle. MORE
