Here are two versions of the same game. In each one, it is a basic 2 v 1, but the angles of attack and defence keep changing depending on the target. It really challenges the role of the support player to put themselves in a good position to give the ball carrier options.
RAINBOW RUN CALLED
Start two attackers with a ball at the starting gate (green cones above).
Put a defender in the middle of the box.
Call out a colour.
The attackers aim to score between the 8m gate of those coloured cones.
They have 30 seconds to do this and score in the other colours, returning to the restart at the end.
If they are tagged, they return to the green gate before trying again. The defender has to return to the middle too.
The ball must be passed backwards depending on the direction of the gate.
RAINBOW RUN RACE
Set up two boxes with 2 v 1 in each box.
The attackers aim to collect a try in each colour. And then return to the starting gate. Any tag means they restart, and reset the colours.
The teams aim to collect the most colours in the time period or get home first.
NOTES
The defender aims to prevent the attackers from scoring using good angles of the run.
You can progress to 3 v 2.
You could put this back into a game and place a condition such as only two defenders allowed in the 15m channel at one time in defence for example.
The direction of passing is backwards as normal. The changing angles create different pictures for the attacking players. When they attack straight ahead, it’s like trying to play against a set defence. In the wider gates, it’s like attacking against a defender who is tracking across.
It also encourages the defender to try and work to set themselves early using good body shape to dictate where they want the attack to play into.
The race is an excellent pressure game because the two groups are aware of each others’ success and push each other on.
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
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
"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
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
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