EXPERT SESSIONS AND ADVICE FROM QUALIFIED AND EXPERIENCED GRASSROOTS RUGBY COACHES
This activity works on the ball carrier sprinting for the line while the defender tries to intercept him.
Getting to the tackle can be as important as making it. This session is mainly working on chasing tackles, so is quite low impact.
Depending on the speed of your defenders, start them further along the side of the box.
Make the tackle a grab and then a full tackle.
Develop by having defenders A and B working together, with the defender not nominated running around the end of the box to come into defend. Another attacker can act as a support runner and take a pass before or after a touch/tackle, to score.
in Tackling
Because ball carriers make every effort to avoid being tackled, a defender might find themselves struggling to tackle them…to begin with. It’s how you finish that matters, according to Les Kiss, head coach at London Irish. Dan Cottrell explains… A lot of tackle coaching can be static. The key points are head position, shoulder contact,... MORE
in Contact, Rugby drills
Avoid slow ball at the tackle or even losing the ball by making every ball carrier far more active on the ground. Use these two exercises to build up players’ ball placement skills under pressure. After the tackle is made, the farther away your player can place the ball from the defence, the harder it is for the opposition to disrupt it. Encourage good placement habits with these exercises. MORE
in Rucking & Mauling, Rugby drills
Put your slow ball ruck plays into more game-like situations. This wrap play exercise is a good starting point, and you can then use it to develop other tactics. A wrap play turns slow ball into quick ball and allows your 9 to recycle it at pace. MORE
in Attack, Rugby drills, Small-sided games
“An attacker picks up a rolling ball under pressure and then decides whether to pass or run to keep the play going forward.” MORE
in Attack, Rugby drills, Small-sided games
“An attacker and defender run unusual running lines, which map out an R, to create a dynamic 1 v 1 which gives a chance for the attacker to attempt to step inside or outflank the defender” MORE
in Attack, Rugby drills
Expect higher standards from your players, no matter what level they are. Do this by creating one focus for the session, a principle of play they must keep to all the time. MORE
