Rugby: Building The Defence 1

Tell your players the following.....

1. The attacking group will wait at the top of the training area until the coach calls the number of defenders.
2. On the call of 1, 2 or 3 - they should attack - aiming to score a try at the opposite end of the grid.
3. The defenders will go in the numbers called. If the coach calls 1, then defender 1 goes - the rest do not. If the coach calls 2, then defenders 1 and 2 go, and if the coach calls 3 - then all 3 defenders go.
4. Defenders who are called can move forward and back, left and right.
5. That's it, lets go.

• You will need to decide if this is a contact exercise or not.
• Don't forget to change the defenders.

Tell the players the following.....

1. The coach will call a colour.
2. At that point the players from those cones should run to the bottom of the grid and turn and face the attack, they will be the defenders.
3. When the defence gets to the bottom of the grid, the remaining players can pick up the ball and attack, it should be 4 v 2.
4. The attack aims to score a try at the bottom of the grid, and the defence aims to oppose the attack.
5. When the attack is finished all the players return to their starting positions.
6. The pace of the exercise should be quick.

• Decide if the exercise is contact or touch.

• 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. One team of 7 will be in attack, the attack should start behind the 22 meter line and they will have the ball.
2. The defenders will have 4 defenders behind the posts, the other defenders will be in goal (give them a passing exercise to do).
3. On the whistle the attack begins, it will be 7 v 4, full contact.
4. If the attack score a try, the defence will then go to 5 players - and will again start from behind the posts while the attack will start from behind the 22.
5. Each time the attack score, the defence increases by 1.
6. Count how many attacks are needed to get to a 7 v 7 situation.
7. The teams will then switch.
8. The winning team is the team that can get to a 7 v 7 situation in the fewest attacks.