EXPERT SESSIONS AND ADVICE FROM QUALIFIED AND EXPERIENCED GRASSROOTS RUGBY COACHES
Develop better footwork skills to get close to the ball carrier, plus good teamwork in this defensive reaction activity.
This session builds a better defence by getting pairs of players to work together.
Put two defenders at one end of the box facing away from an attacker at the other end. The attacker moves from side to side.
When you shout “TURN”, the defenders turn around and aim to touch-tackle the attacker before he makes it to the other end of the box. The ball carrier comes forward immediately.
Initially develop by starting the attacker further forward, or even having two attackers, so defenders have to identify the ball carrier as well as then closing him down.
Allow full tackling.
Finally develop by working in a longer box, with the try line in the middle. The defenders turn to defend against one attacker coming from one end and then sprint back to defend against an attacker coming from the other end.
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