Rugby: Passing Grid-Under pressure

• 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

Offensive players (blue), line out in one deep line while the defence (red) line up opposite in a straight line, slightly inside player from the player that they are marking.

The offence will attempt to pass the ball across the line at speed.

Defenders will move up to stop them but do not tackle, simply press. This teachers the attackers to pass under pressure, as they try to pass across the line without making any mistakes.

Set up a channel with two sets of defenders working in pairs inside.

Three attacking players start with the ball and run around the far cone, realigning as they run around the cone. Players then play out the 3v2.

After this first 3v2 the attackers must move the ball quickly and play out the second 3v2.

This drill will develop your players ability to regather difficult balls and make offloads. 

• Working in groups of three, one player is practicing the skill at a time. 

• The practicing player throws the ball to two other players who are holding balls.
• These two players bounce the ball back and the practicing player has to gather the ball without knocking it on.

Progression 

• Now the practicing player holds two balls. He has to offload and then regather the ball with one hand.