EXPERT SESSIONS AND ADVICE FROM QUALIFIED AND EXPERIENCED GRASSROOTS RUGBY COACHES
A hooker works with one attacking pod for five throws while the other pod defends.
The pods must stand next to each other, forcing a straight jumping and lifting contest. The challenge is to beat the other pod into the air for the ball.
The hooker then swaps over to work with the other pod and the roles are reversed.
“No triggers, don’t give your jump away”
“Be dynamic but don’t rush”
“Read the opposition. What’s their body language telling you?”
Allow the pods to move forwards, backwards or both to find a free jump. The challenge here is to be quicker on the ground and faster into the air.
| Top tip Competition is great for this activity. Keep a count of the success on the five throws. For every one they steal as opposition, they also steal that point. See who gets the most points out of the 10 throws. |
in Rugby drills, Scrums & Lineouts
A good shift drive doesn’t happen by accident. Build it with this session, in which players have to execute the lift and jump under pressure, and shift the point of the contact before the drive is set up. MORE
in Rugby drills, Scrums & Lineouts
This is a great high-energy drill to use before moving on to lineout plays later in your unit session. It’s a competitive activity to develop lifters’ reaction times and technique, both in attack and defence. MORE
in Rugby drills, Scrums & Lineouts
Even the best lineout throws will require some agility on the jumper’s part, as he must reach across to the middle line. So work on their ability to take the ball at all angles and still deliver it cleanly to the 9. MORE
Lineouts start with the players walking into the set piece. Your players need to get used to arriving, concealing their intentions and having the confidence to jump to meet the throw. MORE
in Rugby drills, Scrums & Lineouts
The best lineouts work on tempo, where the jumper arrives and explodes into action before the opposition can react. Practise throw and jump timings to build a rhythm to your sideline set piece. MORE
When you run a move from the back of the scrum, the quality of ball delivery by the 8 is crucial. So work your 8 and 9 in isolation to develop an understanding of what’s best to use and when… MORE
