It is sometimes said that good scrummaging players are born, not made. Although some rugby players are the “right shape” to play in the scrum, the truth is you never stop learning. And with at least 11 factors affecting every one of your lineouts, it’s important you keep working with your forwards to perfect this vital set piece too. Below you’ll find our complete collection of scrum and lineout drills to develop an expert set piece team.
Pressurise opposition lineouts by making their front ball a risky option. You need to combine speed, accuracy and anticipation to read their movements and beat them to the throw. Here’s how… MORE
Use the catch and drive, or the front peel to make the best use of front ball. The front peel is the perfect counter punch to a defence that sets up to defend a catch and drive. MORE
It's easy to think that lineout front ball is only for a catch-and-drive to clear your lines, or to attack their try line from 5m. Yet, it can be used for off-the-top and front peels. But make sure you have the basics in place first. MORE
Ideally, a player is in the strongest position to scrummage throughout the scrum. However, with all the forces coming through contact, they will become unstable. Use these exercises to develop the body awareness to find stability. MORE
Following my webinar with Spencer Williams, who is the rugby professional at Culford School, here is the recording and the slides.
I learned a lot about how to work on scrummaging without a scrum machine, and not having the luxury of 8 v 8. We looked at some of the common problems players (and coaches) face. MORE
WEBINAR ALERT: SATURDAY 5TH FEBRUARY 2022 930am UK time Struggling to know what and how to coach the scrum with U14s to U18s, then experienced schools’ coach, Spencer Williams has the solutions. Understanding that you often have limited time and limited numbers for full scrum sessions, Spencer will talk you through the key factors you need to cover.... MORE
The best forwards’ coaches are often likened to nutty professors. Absolutely embroiled in the detail of lineouts and scrums, they find even the most mundane technique exciting.
But their enthusiasm and understanding is all for nothing if their sessions are not interesting and engaging for the players. Watch England’s former lineout guru Steve Borthwick, now with Leicester, at work and you will see he’s constantly looking for ways to make training as close to the game as possible. Mike Cron, who’s done so much with the All Blacks over the last decade, is the same. MORE
