Rugby: Attacking Skills Version 1

Create space by shifting the focus of your attack and practice exploiting the mismatch with this Sevens Session

Tell your players the following......

1. Players will attack in teams of 3, each attacking unit will have their own ball.
2. At the pads, the ball carrier must hit and roll or hit and spin or sidestep.
3. They will then face 3 v 2 situations following each pad.
4. Their objective is to get to the other side, without making a mistake, and score a try!
5. The following group of 3 can go when they feel there is a reasonable gap between the attacking units.

• Don't forget to change your players about.

Tell them the following......

1. The ball carrier will run forward with the ball, their partner will go with them in support.
2. The ball carrier will pass the ball to the supporting player, who is moving forward.
3. The new ball carrier will now pass the ball to the first receiver in the next group of two, who should be chasing - but no too close.
4. And so the exercise continues, with each set of two support the last set of two.
5. The challenge is, as well as good passing, is that the players should be around the 5 meter boxes and sprint back their starting position in order to keep the ball moving without stopping.

• Remind the players that this must be done at pace.

• Divide your players into groups of five, with one player acting as a running. Each grid will need a runner. The runner starts on the runners cone.
• You might wish to have two groups of five at each grid, and to have a quick demo before sending all the players to their own grids.
• Keep your player briefing, brief!
• The first five passers attack the runners line, passing the pass down the line as they go.
• The runner sets off as soon as the first ball carrier starts to move.
• The aim of attack is to score a try in the corner, beating the runner - so quick hands.
• Each player should realign following their pass, there will be two attacks for each group before they move the ball onto the next group.
• After the first attack the runner goes to their cones on the opposite side of the grid ready for the next attack. The attack begins when the first players picks the ball off the ground.
• Don't forget to change the runners.
• Move the runner cones in to progress the exercise and to put the attack under more pressure.

Tell your players the following...

1. We are playing 7's, normal rules apply - except this is touch.
2. Upon getting touched a player must off-load the ball right away to a supporting attack player. They must stop running.
3. If they do not off-load right away - the ball is turned over to the defence.
4. If they keep running the ball is turned over.
5. Touch is one handed.
6. There are unlimited touches, but in the even of the law being broken e.g. a knock on - the ball will be turned over.
7. The game is to be played at pace.
8. We will have 4 quarters of 4 minutes for this game.

Bring you players together for no more than a minute at the end of each quarter to highlight what is going well, what could be better and to agree targets for the next quarter. Ask players, don't just tell.