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: the cones as shown with a cone 10 meters each side of the posts on the try line. This will mark where the ball will be passed from (feeder) preferably from a scrum half.
• Divide the group into 3 and ask them to stand in single file behind each cone.
• The ball is fed from a position alternately from either side of the post. This will encourage the players to scan, communicate and to be expectant of the ball.
• The players on the cones opposite the posts will either be the 1st receiver or the BANG option runner. The BANG runner is always running an out to in, or up to in line to fix the 2nd defender.
• The players on the middle cone will receive the ball in the BINGO (pull back) option outside the ‘outside’ post or just in behind the BANG player.
• The BINGO players should run and an arced run to receive the ball outside the outer post. The BINGO player should try to straighten up prior to receiving or on receiving the ball.

• Progression:
• Get 2 players or coaches to stand in front of the posts with 2 different coloured cones in their hands on their hips.
• The cones will represent the ‘hips’ of the 2nd defender.
• The aim is to encourage the 1st receiver to scan, look, and make a quick decision (choice of pass) depending on what the defender is doing.
• If the 1st receivers sees the ‘inside’ cone on the 2nd defender then they must assume the defenders hips are turned OUT and make a short pass to the BANG runner.
• If the 1st receivers sees the ‘outside’ cone on the 2nd defender then they must assume the defenders hips are turned IN and make a PULL BACK pass to the BINGO runner.

• Set up a 8 channels of cones 5 metres apart
• A group of 4 players start on the side line, and all players need to work around the nearest/corner cone.
• The first player with the ball will run into the nearest channel of cones (lane 1) and all the other players will work around the corner cone and filter into the proceeding channels
• The 1st player passes the ball as soon as the 2nd player gets into the 2nd channel. The ball is passed down the line of 4 players until the 4th players receives the ball.
• Once the 4th player receives the ball, the ball is placed down and all the players work around to get into their respective channel to repeat the process.

*AUDIO DESCRIPTION ON*

• In groups of 5 tie a bit of tape or string around the two posts approximately 0.5 to 1 meter above the ground.  

• Two players hold the sausages behind the tape on either side and one holds the bag in front of the tape.

• Change the man with the bag every few reps or hold the bag as the coach. 

• The players will rotate around with each rep.

1 Full Repetition: 

• The player starts on the ground, hits the bag with either shoulder and then powers past the bag.

• Player then gets into a low body position and moves under the tape to complete a tackle on the sausage.

• Next, they should get into a strong body position as if they were contesting at a ruck.

• They then pick up the sausage and the previous holder moves around. 

• The aim of the drill is to develop mechanisms to unlock defences in open play
• The first defender/feeder starts with the ball at a cone set up on the touch line five metres out from the try line
• Set another 2 cones 15 meters up on the same touch line. Two players (defenders of the 3v2) start from here once the 2v1 is completed.
• Set 2 cones on the try line 5 metres apart to create the start position for the two attackers and the attacking channel for the 2v1
• The ball is fed from the first defender, with the attackers completing a 2v1
• The defender joins the two attackers to create a 3v2
• Two attackers then become the two defenders for the next repetition of the drill