Rugby: Passing Realignment Short Then Wide

Make sure your players are running hard and straight in attack to draw in defenders before feeding their teammate into the space.

Set up a large square with a cone in each corner. Three attacking players start along one side of the square with two defenders in the middle. You can increase the number of attackers or defenders as you wish. Attacker always try to attack across the square. Once the attackers reach the other side of the square they pop the ball to the attackers on the side of the square and not in front of them.

Set an area with two different coloured cones on the touch line in the middle, one for defenders and one for attackers. At the prompt of the coach the players run around designated cones and attack the defenders to score. Ball carrier should initiate the attack by attacking the inside shoulder of the first defender to stop a drift defence.

Draw the first defender and make the pass to your next support runner who should do the same to pass to the outside runner who can go and score. Once attacked three or four times players should swap to defence but not every single time to create continuity and positive development.

• Set up a 5mx5m grid
• Work in fours - two attacker and two defender
• The ball is fed from a player from the 1st defending player who also holds the tackle pad and will simulate the ‘jackal’ threat player in the 2v2
• The first attacking player receives the ball and engages the pad holder and passes to the second attacking player
• The second attacking player engages the second defender (tackler) and bounces out to a weak shoulder
• The first attacking player (inside clear out) and the 1st defending player (jackler) then try and race to support
• The inside clear looks to support the attacker and clear out the jackler

• This is a quick drill to prime your players in your defence organisation on the short side and its an opportunity to ingrain you defence principles
• The aim of the drill is to develop your teams good habits in defending the short side whilst changing the attack picture continuously
• After each set, player reset
• Set 4 cones up in a square 1m apart 15m from the touch line, this will mark the break down
• Defending players line up on the far side of the ‘ruck’ and these players will be players who will ‘fold’ on the coaches call
• 3 or 4 players will act as attacking players
• 2 other defending players are positioned 5 meters back from the gain line and on the touch line.
• These players need to connect with the players folding around the ruck