VIDEO: Win the space over the ball warm-up
in Rucking & Mauling, Rugby coaching videos, Rugby drills
Use the warm-up activity with tackle tubes and pads to improve the players' leg drive and body shapes when they enter the contact area. MORE
VIDEO: Setting up and playing from quick ball
in Attack, Rucking & Mauling, Rugby coaching videos, Rugby drills
Use this activity to help players work on setting up quick ball from the backs of rucks or scrums and then playing the next phase. It will help develop decision making and quick second phase ball creation and play. MORE
Base ruck
in Practice plans, Rucking & Mauling
Simple to set up, these activities work on improving individual rucking and rucking as a group. There are no bags, just bodies to drive out from the tackle contest. It challenges players to find rucking solution but with a low body position. MORE
One on rucks
in Practice plans, Rucking & Mauling
The first attacking player to the tackle contest can ensure quick ball but only if he can protect the tackled player. Especially with less experienced and younger players, one player can dominate the ruck with a good body position, either until the ball is cleared or further support arrives. MORE
Hot rucks game walkthrough
in Podcast, Rucking & Mauling, Small-sided games
In our series of session walkthroughs, Chris Sweetapple discusses with a game he renamed "hot rucks", which was a development of the Rugby Coach Weekly game, Snap-back ruck game. MORE
Counter rucks
in Practice plans, Rucking & Mauling
Good counter rucking disrupts the opposition attacking ball and may lead to you winning a turnover. This session makes your players more aware of the usefulness of the tactic, whilst practising the basic rucking skills needed to drive back opposition players. MORE
First in clears the threat
in Contact, Rucking & Mauling, Rugby drills
The first support player at the ruck needs to decide whether to clear out a threat and, if so, which technique to use. Start by developing three key techniques, then put them into a game situation. MORE
Contact basics in the tackle with Richard Hill
in Rucking & Mauling, Rugby drills
Work on simple scenarios to improve your players’ execution of the ball presentation at the tackle collision. These skills should be practised throughout the season to speed up your ruck recycling. MORE
The “scoop” ruck detail | Plus handling and tackling
in Email Newsletters, Rucking & Mauling
Ruck pads, also known as tackle shields, provide a soft landing for shoulders (and heads sometimes) when practising rucking. They are not an alternative to rucking practice. Instead, they should help players to concentrate on details that they can apply to a bone-on-bone practice later in the session. MORE
Ruck wrecker
in Practice plans, Rucking & Mauling
A “willingness to fight to win the breakdown battle” is such a key area that the team that wins it almost invariably wins the game. “Ruck wrecker” will develop your players’ techniques and their attitude to winning the breakdown. MORE
