Put kicking into a game
in Kicking, Kicking & Catching, Rugby drills
With the new 50 – 22 Laws, this skill practice aims to aid a kicker with an opportunity to identify where an opposition is weakest. MORE
Exit details from set pieces
An exit is the way a team moves out of its 22m area. Normally a team will kick from a lineout, but from a scrum, it will look to kick or pass away. Here’s some crucial detail. MORE
Kick returns – don’t just throw away possession
Far more possession comes from opposition kicks than scrums or lineouts. You need to have a plan to use this possession – not all of it can simply be run back. Before players make counter attacking decisions, they need to be aware of the type of kick they are receiving and the sort of chase. KICKING... MORE
Jumble up defences with your kicking game
Kicking tactics have changed. With more players in the backfield covering kicks, you now need to savvier with your kicking game. A kicking game is still a key way to jumble up defences. However, defences are staying out of rucks and spreading across the field, thus allowing more players in the backfield. With more players behind the first line of defence, there is less space to kick to. These two factors have meant that kicking has to be more accurate. We cannot get away with kicking the ball long without an excellent chase. We have to think about where we are kicking. MORE
Know their kicking game: boxes and bombs
By reading their specific kicking cues, your players can be in position to receive different types of kick. Know the signs for high ball kicks from their 9 or 10 and be ready to counter. MORE
How to second-guess and nullify their kicking game
How often do we see the best full backs in the world seem to be in the right place at the right time to receive kicks? In this series on reading the opposition kicking game, I start with good set-ups. MORE
Drop-out pressure game
in Kicking, Rugby drills, Small-sided games
Challenge your players to work out better ways to use the 22m drop-out as a way of pressurising the opposition. This fun game promotes accurate kicking, hard chasing and role understanding. MORE
VIDEO ANALYSIS: Punt long, chase hard
You need to plan your kicking so the chasing players know their roles. This is important when exiting your 22m area. Here are two kick-chase plans. MORE
